A diplomatic storm has erupted between Warsaw and Kyiv after Poland stripped President Volodymyr Zelensky of its highest state honour. The decision, confirmed by sources inside the Polish presidential palace, stems from Zelensky’s public references to the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) — a wartime force implicated in the massacre of tens of thousands of Poles between 1943 and 1945.
Poland’s President Andrzej Duda signed the order revoking the Order of the White Eagle, citing remarks made during an interview in May. In that interview, Zelensky called the UPA “heroes” who fought for Ukraine’s independence. The comment, caught by monitors in Warsaw, ignited a firestorm in Polish political circles.
“This is not a memory war. This is a fact,” said a Polish foreign ministry official who spoke on condition of anonymity. “You cannot honour someone who honours murderers.”
The UPA fought for Ukrainian independence from both Soviet and Nazi occupation. But its methods were brutal. In Volhynia and Eastern Galicia, its forces carried out ethnic cleansing operations targeting Polish civilians. Modern Polish governments have long sought an apology and acknowledgment of those crimes. Kyiv has offered gestures but never a full admission.
Zelensky’s office has not commented on the revocation. But a diplomatic note circulated among EU missions suggests the Ukrainian side views the move as “a betrayal of solidarity against Russian aggression.” The note warns that reviving wartime grievances only plays into Moscow’s hands.
Polish officials counter that Ukraine’s current fight doesn’t give it a free pass on history. “Solidarity is not amnesia,” the Polish official said. “If we ignore this, we teach our children that mass murder is negotiable.”
The rift threatens to fracture the united front that Western powers have tried to maintain against Russia. Poland has been one of Ukraine’s most vocal supporters, providing military hardware, hosting millions of refugees, and pushing for tougher EU sanctions. Now Polish truckers are blocking border crossings, and farmers are protesting cheap Ukrainian grain imports.
“This isn’t just about the past. It’s about the present,” said a European diplomat familiar with the talks. “Poland feels taken for granted. Ukraine feels lectured. And Putin is watching.”
Uncovered correspondence between the Polish and Ukrainian defence ministries shows that tensions have been simmering since at least March. In one letter, Polish officials demanded Ukraine remove a UPA monument from a village near the border. In another, Ukraine asked Poland to stop investigating wartime crimes committed by Ukrainian units.
“The West ignored the cracks,” said a historian who advised both governments. “Now they have a canyon.”
The Order of the White Eagle is Poland’s highest civilian award. Previous recipients include former US President George H.W. Bush, Pope John Paul II, and Lech Walesa. Zelensky received it in 2022 for his leadership during the Russian invasion. The award has never been revoked before.
The decision was rushed, sources say. Duda consulted with the foreign ministry just hours before the announcement. No public debate. No legal challenge. “This was political, not legal,” said a constitutional lawyer in Warsaw.
The fallout is immediate. Ukraine’s ambassador to Poland was called to the foreign ministry for an explanation. Poland’s ambassador to Ukraine stayed away from public events. And in Kyiv, a senior presidential aide told reporters that the move “damages the spirit of brotherhood.”
Meanwhile, Russian state media is joyfully covering the split. RT anchors frame the story as proof that the West’s support for Ukraine is brittle. Pro-Kremlin Telegram channels circulate fake quotes from Polish leaders saying they will cut all aid.
“We must not let history be weaponised,” said a European Commission spokesperson, who declined to say whether Brussels would mediate.
But the damage is done. For now, Zelensky remains stripped of his White Eagle. And the east-west rift strains under the weight of ghosts that were never truly buried.
