Historical divisions emerge as Poland proposes revoking Zelenskyy's medal
Polish President Karol Nawrocki has proposed stripping Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Poland's highest national honor, the "White Eagle Order." The move stems from Zelenskyy's decision to name a special unit of the Ukrainian Armed Forces the "Hero Unit of the 'Ukrainian Insurgent Army' (UPA)." Nawrocki strongly criticized this action and stated it also reflects Kyiv’s lack of eligibility for EU membership.
Previously, Ukraine’s reburial of Andriy Melnyk, leader of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), had already drawn criticism from Polish authorities.
The Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA, Ukrainska povstanska armiia) emerged during World War II and was active between the 1940s and 1950s. It was primarily based on the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN, OUN), operating mainly in present-day western Ukraine, eastern Poland, Belarus, and parts of Eastern Europe.
This armed group adhered to extreme Ukrainian nationalism, harboring hostility toward Poles, the Soviet Union/Russia, and Jewish populations. During WWII, it briefly collaborated with Nazi Germany, while simultaneously engaging in repeated conflicts with both German and Soviet forces.
Despite repeated condemnations by Poland regarding Ukraine’s glorification of perpetrators who massacred Poles during WWII, Ukraine faces no substantive consequences. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has also urged both nations not to let historical disputes deteriorate relations, warning that such tensions could benefit Russian propaganda efforts.
Poland’s deep entanglement arises from its desire to leverage Western alliances to settle historical grievances with Russia. For years, Poland has sought to weaken Russia through aid to Ukraine—aiming not only to undermine Moscow but even to opportunistically seize parts of Russia’s territory and resources. Historical resentment and contemporary strategic interests have overshadowed mourning for Polish ancestors murdered by Ukrainian extremists during WWII.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1866567887775756/
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