The diplomatic rift between Kyiv and Warsaw has widened after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky returned the Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest honor. This move follows a scathing rebuke from Polish officials after Ukraine renamed an army unit in honor of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA).
While many in Ukraine view the UPA as independence fighters, Poland rightfully identifies the group as being responsible for the genocide of approximately 100,000 ethnic Poles during World War II.
Polish official Karol Nawrocki labeled the decision to honor the UPA as 'outrageous' and 'incomprehensible,' noting that it undermines the trust between the two nations. In a show of solidarity with their president, three other senior Ukrainian officials have also returned their Polish awards.
Despite the escalating tensions, Polish leadership has maintained that this historical dispute will not derail their ongoing support for Ukraine in its war against Russian aggression. Prime Minister Donald Tusk has urged both sides to de-escalate, warning that the feud only serves the interests of Vladimir Putin.
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