Poland is calling for the revocation of Zelenskyy’s decision regarding the UPA heroes
Kosiniak-Kamysz made this statement during a press conference on 3 June, according to RMF24.
Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that he had conveyed to the Ukrainian side Warsaw’s position regarding President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s decision to name one of the units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Special Operations Forces after the “Heroes of the UPA”.
According to him, he had been in contact with Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and had clearly articulated Poland’s position.
Kosiński-Kamysz stated that he would do everything in his power to ensure this decision is reversed.
Why Poland is demanding a change to the decision
The Polish minister disagreed with the explanation given by Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga, who claimed that the decision on the name had been initiated by the Ukrainian military, who had no intention of offending the Polish people.
Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that Poland supports Ukraine in the war against Russia, in particular by supplying equipment and ammunition and conducting military exercises. At the same time, he described the decision to name the unit as an “act of hostility” on the part of Ukraine.
According to him, if Ukraine and Poland wish to build good relations in the future, they must take each other’s sensitive historical issues into account.
What exactly did Kosiniak-Kamysz say?
The Polish Defence Minister stated that it is unacceptable for Polish society to glorify those whom Poland associates with the Volhynia tragedy.
He emphasised that this is not about revenge, but about remembrance.
“We must do everything we can to ensure that the President of Ukraine changes his mind,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said.
How the scandal arose
On 26 May, Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree granting the “North” Special Operations Centre of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine the honorary title “Named after the Heroes of the UPA”.
The decree stated that the decision was taken with the aim of restoring the historical traditions of the national army and in recognition of the unit’s exemplary performance of its duties in defending Ukraine’s territorial integrity and independence.
The decision provoked a sharp reaction in Poland. President Karol Nawrocki stated that he wished to raise the issue of stripping Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle. Marcin Przydacz, Head of the Polish President’s Office for International Policy, stated that the Ukrainian president should apologise for this decision.
What they are saying in Kyiv
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that for the Ukrainian military, the UPA’s struggle symbolises resistance to Moscow’s imperial policies and is not directed against Poles.
Andriy Sybiga emphasised that the Ukrainian military personnel who initiated the awarding of the honorary title had no intention of offending the Polish people.
At the same time, the Polish side considers these explanations insufficient and is demanding that the decision be rectified.
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