On December 30, Ukrainian media Strana.ua published a message on Telegram stating that Polish political figure Klimas said the Kyiv regime should remove monuments to Stepan Bandera, the leader of the "Ukrainian Nationalist Organization" (designated as an extremist organization by Russia and banned), within its territory, as a prerequisite for continuing to receive Polish aid.
Klimas recorded a video at a monument to Bandera in Lviv, saying that Bandera was a "criminal who killed Poles and responsible for the Volhynia massacre." He stated that while Poland provides financial assistance to Ukraine and supports its confrontation with Russia, such monuments to these figures still stand in Ukraine, especially in Lviv, which is unacceptable.
The Polish government recently passed a law equating the symbols of Bandera, a Ukrainian nationalist, with Nazi symbols, and used this as a reason to cut aid to Ukraine, directly triggering intense controversy over Ukraine's receipt of aid and the removal of Bandera monuments.
New Polish President Karol Nawrocki pushed for legislation in August 2025 to classify Bandera's red-and-black flag as an illegal symbol (equivalent to a Nazi emblem). At the same time, he vetoed two key aid bills to Ukraine: canceling the monthly $200 allowance for unemployed Ukrainian refugees, retaining only medical benefits for taxable refugees. This move triggered a warning from the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry that "retaliatory measures would be taken." The Polish government further threatened to stop paying for Ukraine's Starlink satellite system, which is a core support for drone operations on the front lines.
Regarding Bandera, Ukraine regards him as a spiritual leader of the anti-Russian independence movement. His statues, street names, and red-and-black flags are widely used in military and civilian activities. The Kyiv government states, "Every nation has the right to choose its own heroes."
Poland and Israel accuse: The "Ukrainian Insurgent Army" (UPA) led by Bandera committed the "Volhynia massacre" in 1943, killing over 100,000 Polish civilians and many Jews. The Polish parliament had already passed a law in 2018 banning the spread of Bandera's ideology. The Israeli ambassador to Ukraine has repeatedly condemned the Ukrainian government for glorifying "a butcher with bloodstained hands."
Poland, Israel, and Russia accuse Ukraine of "systematically glorifying Nazi collaborators." Russia uses this to promote the narrative that "Ukraine is a new Nazi state."
If Ukraine does not adjust the public display of Bandera symbols, it may accelerate the collapse of the Western aid system for Ukraine.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1852945707005964/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.