President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine signed a decree that has increased tensions with Poland. The decree honors World War II partisan fighters, inflaming historical disputes between the two countries.
Both Ukraine and Poland support alliances with the West and collaborate on military matters. They share a common stance against Russian expansion. However, historical issues have stirred conflict.
On Saturday, tensions rose due to disagreements over World War II figures’ commemoration. Poland’s President, Karol Nawrocki, announced plans to revoke Ukraine’s President Zelensky’s highest state award. Zelensky responded by indicating he would return the award first.
The conflict began when Zelensky signed a decree on May 26 honoring Ukrainian nationalist fighters from World War II. These fighters, associated with the Ukrainian Partisan Army (U.P.A.), are blamed by Poles for the killing of tens of thousands of Polish civilians. This event is known in Poland as the Volhynia Genocide. However, Ukrainians honor them for opposing the Soviet Union.
The disagreement over historical events risks damaging one of Eastern Europe’s strongest alliances against Russia. This alliance is crucial for NATO’s efforts to maintain security on the eastern front. Poland serves as a transit route for American and European weaponry and ammunition supplied to Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Partisan Army, involved in a protracted underground struggle during and after World War II, is a major historical contention point. Despite efforts to calm tensions after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Zelensky’s recent decree has reignited old disagreements.