The White Eagle Order is returned — a rare diplomatic signal
The news spread quickly among presidential officials in Kyiv: Poland formally revoked the White Eagle Order from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The award, given in 2022 as recognition of Ukraine's resilience in facing the Russian invasion, was now withdrawn on the grounds of 'inappropriate respect for a historical entity responsible for atrocities against Polish citizens.' Zelensky responded within less than 24 hours — officially returning the medal. This action is not just a symbolic protest; it marks a fracture in the foundation of trust between two countries that have long been the backbone of Western support for Ukraine.
The direct cause of this conflict is the decision by Ukraine's Ministry of Defense in early 2024 to rename the 103rd Separate Mechanized Brigade as the 'UPA Brigade,' honoring the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). For Poland, UPA is not a freedom fighter — but a perpetrator of genocide. Between 1943 and 1945, UPA units killed approximately 100,000 Polish citizens in the Volhynia and Eastern Galicia regions. Warsaw has long classified these events as genocide and banned any form of glorification of the organization under its historical laws.
Unhealed historical wounds
The history of UPA cannot be separated from the context of post-World War II turmoil in Eastern Europe. As the armed wing of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), UPA fought against Soviet and Polish occupations — but also carried out a systematic campaign to 'expel' Polish residents from territories claimed as Ukrainian homeland. Retaliation from Polish forces and the temporary Polish government also resulted in casualties among Ukrainian citizens. However, in official Polish narratives, Volhynia remains a national trauma — an episode that cannot be rehabilitated through modern honors.
This issue is not new. In 2016, Poland blocked an UPA memorial ceremony in Warsaw. In 2017, Ukraine passed a law recognizing independence fighters, including UPA members, as 'national heroes.' The tension eased temporarily when the Russia-Ukraine war broke out in February 2022. Poland became Ukraine's most steadfast supporter: the main gateway for Western military aid, host to over three million refugees, and a key strategic advisor in military operations.
Wave of backlash in Kyiv
Poland's decision was not only directed at Zelensky. It triggered a chain reaction among Ukraine's elite. Former presidents Petro Poroshenko and Viktor Yushchenko — both recipients of the White Eagle Order — returned their awards within 48 hours. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba described Warsaw's move as a 'major mistake that directly benefits Russia.' He emphasized that divisions among allies at such a critical moment only weaken Ukraine's position before NATO and the EU.
However, critical voices also emerged from within. Some historians and defense analysts in Kyiv acknowledge that renaming the military brigade was a provocative and ill-timed action. Ukraine relies on Poland's military and logistical support — including investments in air defense systems, special forces training, and access to Baltic Sea ports through Polish territory. This tension has the potential to erode the confidence of European policymakers already facing domestic political pressure due to war fatigue.
Geopolitical risks amid the war
This crisis arises at the most sensitive time: Ukraine is launching counterattacks along its eastern and southern borders while striving to accelerate integration with European security structures. Poland, meanwhile, is one of the most vocal countries pushing for the EU to expedite Ukraine's membership process and tighten sanctions against Russia. If bilateral relations continue to deteriorate, it could disrupt the flow of weapons, reduce the speed of joint training, and weaken diplomatic coordination in forums like NATO and the European Council.
At the public level, Poland's support for Ukraine remains strong — but no longer unquestionable. A CBOS survey in November 2023 showed that support for accepting Ukrainian refugees dropped from 78% (2022) to 63%, especially among voters of the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party. This award incident has the potential to deepen perception divides — not only between governments, but also among ordinary citizens.
Path forward: pragmatism over narratives
Although the tone remains harsh in the media, diplomatic channels remain open. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba held phone conversations and informal meetings in Brussels last week. Both sides did not announce concrete results — but expressed commitment to 'maintaining the integrity of strategic cooperation.' Geopolitical reality does not allow for a split: Ukraine cannot afford to lose access to Polish logistics infrastructure; Poland, on the other hand, does not want to lose its influence as a key advisor to Ukraine on the European stage.
The way out may lie in principled compromise: Ukraine could avoid using the name UPA in the context of formal military institutions, without changing existing historical laws; Poland, in turn, could acknowledge that Ukraine's historical interpretation of UPA is rooted in Soviet colonial experience — not hatred toward Poland. True peace in the region does not begin with erasing historical differences, but with managing them openly — without letting them become political weapons.
For journalists on the ground, the atmosphere in Kyiv remains calm. No street protests, no harsh statements from parliament. But in embassies and ministry meeting rooms, there is real concern: unresolved history is not just a burden of the past — it can become a gap exploited by today's enemies.