Poland has withdrawn its highest state distinction, the Order of the White Eagle, from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following Ukraine’s decision to name a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), a group whose wartime legacy remains deeply divisive.

Polish President Karol Nawrocki described Kyiv’s decision as “outrageous,” “incomprehensible,” and “deeply disappointing,” stating that honoring the UPA was unacceptable for most Polish citizens due to the organization’s alleged role in massacres of ethnic Poles in Volhynia during World War II.

The UPA operated during the 1940s and 1950s and is viewed differently in Ukraine and Poland. Many Ukrainians regard its members as national heroes who fought for independence against Soviet forces, Nazi Germany, and Polish authorities. In contrast, Poland accuses the group of carrying out the killings of tens of thousands of ethnic Poles between 1943 and 1945.

Despite the diplomatic dispute, Nawrocki emphasized that Poland’s support for Ukraine in its ongoing war against Russia would remain unchanged.

Ukraine strongly criticized Warsaw’s decision. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called the move a “strategic mistake” and said it demonstrated a lack of respect toward Ukraine.

The latest disagreement highlights the continuing sensitivity surrounding historical issues between the two neighboring countries. Although Poland has been one of Ukraine’s strongest supporters since Russia’s full-scale invasion, differing interpretations of World War II events have periodically strained bilateral relations.

Analysts say both governments are likely to seek ways to prevent the historical dispute from undermining broader cooperation on security and regional stability.