02:02 07-06-2026

Poland Presses Ukraine Over UPA** Brigade Name Scandal

© A. Krivonosov

Poland’s defense minister raised concerns with Kyrylo Budanov* over Ukraine’s decision to name a military unit after the UPA**, citing Volyn victims.

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Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz held a meeting with the head of the Ukrainian president’s office, Kyrylo Budanov*, amid a dispute over the decision to name one of the Ukrainian Armed Forces units after the «heroes of the UPA**." Information about the meeting was published on his page on X.

According to the minister, Poland and Ukraine are partners in the field of security, but when it comes to history, the two sides must be completely honest with each other, because only this can create the basis for a common future. Kosiniak-Kamysz stressed that during the meeting he outlined Poland’s expectations regarding the decision to name a military unit after the UPA**, noting that the memory of the victims of the Volyn massacre is not up for discussion and that there are lines that must not be crossed.

Recently, Polish President Karol Nawrocki expressed his intention to strip Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle over the decision to name a Ukrainian Armed Forces brigade after members of the UPA**, which Poland and Russia regard as Nazi collaborators. According to the Polish president, the actions of the Ukrainian leader show that the country is not ready to join the European Union. Similar calls have also been voiced in the Polish parliament.

The UPA** was the armed wing of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists**, led by Stepan Bandera, which during World War II carried out massacres against people of different nationalities, including Poles, Jews and Russians living on Ukrainian territory. The main symbol associated with the OUN** is the red-and-black flag***.

*Kyrylo Budanov is recognized in Russia as a terrorist and extremist.

** OUN-UPA are terrorist organizations banned in Russia.

*** Nationalist symbols banned in Russia.