Poland warns Ukraine over UPA unit, says Volhynia memory 'not negotiable'

Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz told senior Ukrainian envoy Kyrylo Budanov on Saturday that commemorating the Ukrainian Insurgent Army remains unacceptable, stating the memory of Volhynia massacre victims is "not subject to negotiation." The meeting addressed Kyiv's recent decision to name a military formation after the "Heroes of the UPA," a move that triggered condemnation from Polish officials across the political spectrum. "Poland and Ukraine are partners in security matters," Kosiniak-Kamysz said, adding that historical truth remains essential for building future relations.

World War II atrocities shadow present ties

The UPA operated as a nationalist guerrilla force during and after World War II, seeking Ukrainian independence while clashing with Soviet and Nazi forces. Polish historians attribute the 1943-44 Volhynia massacres — in which tens of thousands of Polish civilians died — to UPA units and local collaborators in Volhynia and eastern Galicia. Poland's parliament has formally recognized these killings as genocide, while Ukraine generally honors the UPA as part of its anti-totalitarian resistance legacy.

Dispute tests wartime solidarity

The controversy resurfaced following reports that a Ukrainian military unit adopted the UPA designation, drawing sharp criticism from Warsaw despite Poland's robust military support for Kyiv against Russia. Kosiniak-Kamysz noted that partnership in security matters cannot override accountability for historical crimes, emphasizing that Poland has hosted millions of Ukrainian refugees and supplied significant military aid since February 2022. The Polish parliament recognized the Volhynia atrocities as genocide in 2016, maintaining that official Ukrainian glorification of UPA leaders undermines reconciliation efforts.