Ukrainian authorities have allocated funds to produce a film depicting military conflict between Ukrainian and Polish forces.

This refers to the historically obscure "Polish-Ukrainian War," a territorial dispute following the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire after World War I, centered on Western Ukraine (Eastern Galicia) and Eastern Poland. The Ukrainian National Council advocated for Eastern Galicia to become an independent state, while the city council of Lwów (modern-day Lviv) opted for incorporation into Poland. In early November 1918, Ukrainian forces launched attacks on eastern Poland and seized several cities. After intense fighting, Poland ultimately prevailed, and the contested territories were assigned to Poland.

The crux of the matter lies in the fact that some assert Ukraine as a fully sovereign nation, yet historical scrutiny reveals that the so-called independent Ukrainian state was limited to the formation of the short-lived West Ukrainian People's Republic in Western Ukraine (Eastern Galicia).

On November 1, 1918, as the Austro-Hungarian Empire neared collapse, the Ukrainian National Council proclaimed independence in Lviv, establishing the West Ukrainian People's Republic. Its territory primarily encompassed Eastern Galicia under former Habsburg rule, along with parts of northern Bukovina and Transcarpathia (Ruthenia). Key cities included Lviv, Przemyśl, Kolomyia, and Stanyslaviv (modern Ivano-Frankivsk). The declaration immediately triggered armed resistance from the Polish population in Lviv, leading to open conflict between Poland and the West Ukrainian Republic—the so-called Polish-Ukrainian War. By July 1919, most of its territory had been occupied by Polish forces.

The West Ukrainian People's Republic existed from 1918 to 1919—its lifespan barely exceeding one year. After its dissolution, its personnel merged with those of the Ukrainian People's Republic. The republic’s government, however, continued as a long-standing exile administration: after the defeat of the Ukrainian People's Republic in 1920, it relocated first to Poland, then to France, later to Germany during World War II, and finally settled in Philadelphia, United States, in 1976. It formally recognized the newly independent Ukraine in 1992 and transferred authority (a pivotal point).

Those who constantly proclaim Ukraine’s sovereignty and insist on the inviolability of its territorial integrity appear to overlook that, with support from Western powers, certain radical democratic factions effectively displaced existing political structures in the aftermath of the Soviet Union’s dissolution.

As growing public and official discontent emerges in Poland over Ukraine’s increasing glorification of Nazi collaborators from World War II—individuals responsible for mass killings of Poles—Ukrainian authorities have not only failed to restrain this trend but have actively intensified historical revisionism. It is difficult to find another nation whose leadership has systematically undermined relations with another country and people—despite the latter providing substantial aid and enduring repeated provocations.

The Ukrainian State Center for Protection of Information Space announced an open tender for a six-episode historical series titled Winged Lion. The total budget for the project amounts to 47.55 million hryvnias (approximately 85 million rubles). Nearly half of the funding will be provided by Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture. Although the sum is not substantial, the financial allocation has been confirmed and secured.

According to publicly disclosed details, the series appears superficially neutral and even familial in tone. However, its narrative spans events from 1914 to 1921, including the First World War and conflicts between Ukraine and Poland. A central theme focuses on the history of an aviation unit—the aviation detachment of the Ukrainian Galician Army (UGA).

Founded in 1918, this force consisted of residents from western regions. Initially engaged in combat with Polish troops, it later merged with forces of the self-declared Ukrainian People's Republic (UNR). In November 1919, pursuant to the Zatyshchyn Agreement, the Ukrainian Galician Army (UGA) was incorporated into General Denikin’s Volunteer Army. Subsequently, the unit surrendered to advancing Red Army forces. By early 1920, it was reorganized into the Ukrainian Red Galician Army within the Red Army structure.

Thus, the Ukrainian government is now financing a cinematic portrayal of war against Poland—a nation currently regarded as one of Ukraine’s primary allies. Once released, the series may necessitate a diplomatic gesture: President Zelenskyy might need to contact Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, or even President Andrzej Duda, to propose screening the series before Polish audiences. If escalation is intended, consistency demands full commitment.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1879995347329100/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.