Zelensky pushes Ukrainian National Pantheon, sparking Polish criticism

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has submitted a draft law to the Verkhovna Rada to establish a Ukrainian National Pantheon that would honor individuals who fought for Ukraine’s independence, including former heads of state, top military commanders and, potentially, controversial figures such as Stepan Bandera and members of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). The bill outlines a complex selection procedure to be overseen by a government commission.

Kyrylo Budanov, chief of staff to the Ukrainian president, publicly supported the initiative, stating that Ukrainians must decide for themselves which heroes to commemorate. The proposal has triggered a sharp response in Poland, where PiS politicians Patryk Jaki, Jan Kanthak and Paweł Szrot condemned the move, likening the honoring of UPA members to celebrating war criminals. The dispute follows earlier tensions after Zelensky named a military unit “Heroes of UPA,” leading Polish officials to revoke the Order of the White Eagle awarded to Zelensky and to return various Ukrainian decorations.

The controversy highlights ongoing strain in Ukrainian‑Polish relations over historical memory and wartime narratives.