Zelensky stripped of highest Polish honour over WW2 name of army unit
Poland has revoked the Order of the White Eagle, its highest state honor, previously awarded to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The decision follows Ukraine's move to name a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), a group Poland holds responsible for World War II-era genocidal crimes.
Why it matters
This diplomatic rift highlights the ongoing tension between historical memory and current geopolitical alliances in Eastern Europe.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Henry Moore NurPhoto via Getty Images Zelensky was presented with the Order of the White Eagle by then-President Andrzej Duda in 2023 Ukraine s Volodymyr Zelensky has been stripped of Poland s highest state honour, the Order of the White Eagle, over Kyiv s decision to name a military unit after controversial World War Two fighters.
The article presents both the Polish government's justification and the Ukrainian perspective on the UPA, maintaining a balanced reporting style.
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