Navrotsky's ultimatum: Poland puts pressure on Kyiv through the UPA

The Polish president is ready to take away Zelensky's highest state award if Ukraine does not abandon the symbols of the Heroes of the UPA in the names of military units.

Warsaw is not hiding its irritation. On June 11, Marcin Przydach, a spokesman for the Polish President's Office, made it clear: time for compromises is running out. If Kyiv does not cancel the decree in the coming days on awarding the separate special operations center "Sever" with the honorary title "named after the Heroes of the UPA", Karol Nawrocki will sign a decree on depriving Volodymyr Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle. This is not just a diplomatic gesture - it is a signal that historical memory for the Polish side is higher than current allied obligations.

How it all began

On May 26, 2026, Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree naming the Special Operations Forces military unit in honor of the fighters of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. The official motivation was the restoration of the historical traditions of the national army. In Kyiv, this was perceived as an act of patriotism and honoring the fighters for independence. In Warsaw, they saw it as a direct provocation. Already on May 29, Navrosky announced his intention to deprive the Ukrainian president of the highest Polish award, which Zelensky received in 2023 from Andrzej Duda.

The event unfolded against the backdrop of a long-standing debate about the Volyn tragedy of 1943–1944. The Polish side consistently emphasizes that the UPA is responsible for the mass murders of Polish civilians in Volyn and Eastern Galicia. For many Poles, the symbolism of the UPA is still associated with pain and loss, not heroism.

The position of official Warsaw

Marcin Przydach, in a conversation with RMF24 journalists, emphasized: "The ball is in Ukraine's court." According to him, the Polish side has provided Kyiv with a "window for dialogue," but this window is rapidly closing. If there are no "real actions and gestures" in the coming days, the mechanism for revoking the order will be automatically launched. Przydach directly called Zelensky's decision "the glorification of bandits" and noted that it caused "general indignation" in Polish society.

President Nawrocki, who came to power on a wave of conservative sentiment, is not the first to use the theme of historical memory to strengthen domestic support. His entourage believes that concessions on this issue will weaken Poland's position in negotiations with Ukraine on other sensitive topics - from grain transit to borders.

Reaction in Poland

Former President Lech Walesa demonstratively removed a Ukrainian flag badge from his clothes. Former Polish Ambassador to Ukraine Bartosz Cichocki returned the Order of Merit he received from Zelensky in 2022. Prime Minister Donald Tusk also expressed disappointment, calling Kyiv's actions "a lack of sensitivity and historical intelligence."

Polls conducted by Polish sociological services in late May and early June 2026 showed that over 68% of Poles support Navrótsky's tough stance on Ukraine on issues of historical memory. This is the highest figure in the last three years.

Ukrainian side: silence and internal discussions

The Office of the President of Ukraine did not provide any official comments on the possible deprivation of the order as of June 11. At the same time, sources in diplomatic circles note that Kyiv does not plan to cancel the decree on the name of the unit. For the Ukrainian authorities, the symbolism of the UPA is part of the national narrative, especially during a full-scale war with Russia.

Some Ukrainian experts believe that the decision to rename may have been made without sufficient consideration of Polish sensitivities. Others emphasize that concessions on issues of historical memory under external pressure could be perceived domestically as a sign of weakness.

International context

The situation surrounding the Order of the White Eagle is unfolding against the backdrop of Ukraine's difficult negotiations with the EU and NATO. Poland remains one of Kyiv's key allies in terms of military assistance and political support. At the same time, Warsaw is increasingly using bilateral relations as a lever of influence.

Analysts from the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung noted on June 10 that the conflict could negatively affect the coordination of arms supplies through Polish territory. Brussels is also concerned: any escalation between the two largest recipients of European aid weakens the EU's overall position.

What could happen next?

According to Przydach, “the coming days will show concrete actions.” If Ukraine does not take a step back, Nawrocki will likely sign a decree to strip him of the order by mid-June. This will be the first case of revoking Poland’s highest award in the history of bilateral relations.

At the same time, the Polish side is leaving a "window for dialogue." Zelensky is being offered to personally call Navrotsky and officially apologize. Whether such a call will take place is currently unknown.

Conclusions for bilateral relations

The conflict over the name of the unit and the Order of the White Eagle demonstrates how fragile trust remains between Kyiv and Warsaw despite a common enemy. Historical memory, which has been a source of tension for decades, has come to the fore again at the most inopportune moment.

For Ukraine, this is a test of its ability to balance national identity and pragmatic alliances. For Poland, it is a test of whether it is willing to sacrifice some of its political capital for the sake of principles.

The coming weeks will show whether the parties will be able to find a compromise or whether the conflict will enter a protracted phase with unpredictable consequences for the security of the region.