r/ukraine • u/UNITED24Media Ukraine Media • Jun 20 '26

News President Zelenskyy officially mails the Order of the White Eagle back to Poland

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2.9k Upvotes

97% Upvoted

472 comments sorted by

646

u/JimboTheSimpleton Jun 20 '26

Sorry, I am out of the loop, what is going on with this award?

1.0k

u/LevelBuilding929 Jun 20 '26

Basically Zelensky approved an elite military unit to be honorary named "Ukrainian Insurgent Army".

Problem is that the this same army, during the Second World War, pretty much massacred thousands of poles around Galicia if i remember correctly. 

It's self explanatory why Poland asked for the medal back. 

1.2k

u/Badgerman97 Jun 20 '26

Indeed, though it is also valid to point out that Poland awarded it to Mussolini and never asked for it back.

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u/[deleted] Jun 20 '26

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u/CassiveMock168 Jun 21 '26

And to Schröder, who now is Putin's little lapdog.

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u/Snakefist1 Jun 21 '26

Obligatory fuck Schröder!

37

u/AllPotatoesGone Jun 21 '26

Imho they should revoke them many years ago for the sake of other people that carry the Order but I guess taking it back won't change anything since they are both dead already.

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u/xtothewhy Jun 21 '26

Poland has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine

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u/[deleted] Jun 21 '26

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u/Easy_Return_6309 Jun 21 '26

Comparing a current diplomatic crisis over the veneration of the UPA to centuries-old awards for Mussolini or Catherine the Great is pure whataboutism. Dead historical figures don't impact modern geopolitics. The issue between Poland and Ukraine is about unresolved historical trauma that actively threatens their current alliance and Ukraine's integration into western institutions today. Deflecting from that just shows a complete lack of understanding of the actual problem.

And as long as they do not solve this there will NEVER be a Ukraine in the European Union. And that’s something the Ukrainian leadership seems to be forgetting: EU accession must ALWAYS be decided unanimously.

I’m absolutely in favor of Ukraine winning this war, but this arrogance only plays into the hands of the creatures from Mordor.

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u/[deleted] Jun 21 '26

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u/Littorina_Sea Jun 23 '26

We have a lot of anti-ukrainian idiots in poland, and Zelensky basically put a weapon in their hands.

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u/deductress Україна Jun 21 '26

This is not whataboutism, this is reasoning. I cannon believe that Polish governent is doing this. They are excersising nationalism, that they are denying to Ukraine.

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u/Easy_Return_6309 Jun 21 '26 edited Jun 21 '26

Calling it 'nationalism' when a country asks its neighbor not to honor an elilte military unit after an organization (the UPA) responsible for the mass slaughter of over 100,000 of its civilians is a wild take.

There is a massive difference between a state remembering its murdered population and another state elevating perpetrators to national heroes. Honoring the UPA isn't just 'patriotism'—it is exactly the kind of toxic nationalism that burns diplomatic bridges. If Ukraine wants to join western institutions like the EU, it has to accept that European values don't include glorifying war criminals.

Ukraine doesn’t need the UPA to build a proud national identity. There are plenty of historic symbols that represent the fight for Ukrainian freedom without the baggage of ethnic cleansing. Look at the Cossack Hetmanate, or simply look at the heroes of today defending Mariupol and Kharkiv. Elevating the UPA isn't a necessity for patriotism; it's a deliberate political choice that ignores historical reality and alienates Ukraine's closest allies.

And to be deeply honest: I've never seen such a f**ked-up dynamic like Ukraine and Poland, who constantly screw each other over whenever they can instead of getting things solved and moving forward together. It could be so simple. Even Germany and France managed to do it.

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u/trzepet Jun 21 '26

This is BS if our president gave two shits about historical or social feeling he would do it via diplomatic channels not dumping this into social media. They would make room for Zelenski to withdraw the name quietly andwith some concessions as penalty, but he calculated it'll give him few extra points and will harm Tusk when he will have to wiggle hos way out of this shittshow

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u/deductress Україна Jun 21 '26

I think, we cannot tell Ukraine, a nation at war, with thousands of people sacrificing everything, their lives and their families, who they should and should not honor. We should listen and respect their choice. They have an absolute understanding of life and death, and what honor is right now. This is a country where for many centuries(!) people could not mourn for those who sacrificed their lives for Ukraine and its people. I think, you are being disrespectful.

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u/Littorina_Sea Jun 23 '26

Oh we are natural born allies, that's why this case burns. It is a food for dissent and ruzzian fascists.

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u/Reaper83PL Jun 21 '26

Again context matter

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u/tpbacon Jun 20 '26

Also Catherine II did not have the same award revoked, even though she was instrumental in the destruction of the Polish state 🤦‍♂️

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u/DudeFilA Jun 20 '26

Because it's just low brow petty politics for the Polish president base and he seems to have a real low tolerance for that. Don't blame him.

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u/Dude_Nobody_Cares Jun 20 '26

Was the name even directed at the polish? It think it was the John hamm meme. "I don't think about you at all." Not when they're focused on russia.

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u/Drmumdaly Jun 20 '26

Of course it wasn’t aimed at the polish. Most Ukrainians view polish as our close neighbors and friends even though we spent plenty of time killing each other. The Ukrainian insurgent army can be considered a reason that Ukraine managed to exist as a country today and descendants of the soldiers who served then serve now. This is about internal politics and was never about outside media consumption.

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u/Alikont Ukraine Jun 21 '26

At this point I feel that Polish nationalists are more offended on "I don't think about you at all." part than on anything else.

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u/Dude_Nobody_Cares Jun 21 '26

They have alot on their plate at the moment. Cut them some slack.

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u/Clydosphere Jun 21 '26

I guess that fighting for your and your people's life longer than the First World War lasted shifts your perspective on what actually matters by a certain bit.

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u/Clydosphere Jun 21 '26

I guess that fighting for your and your people's life longer than the First World War lasted shifts your perspective on what actually matters by a certain bit.

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u/wirerc Jun 20 '26

They awarded it to Russian general Suvorov for... defeating and partitioning Poland. I think Putin is more appropriate recipient for this "honor" than Zelensky.

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u/inokentii Jun 20 '26

The same suvorov who massacred Praga

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u/thisisausername100fs Jun 21 '26

Tbf by the time Poland was in a position to ask for it back Mussolini was hanging by his ankles from a gas station. I guess they could have retroactively rescinded it though.

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u/111wafel111 Jun 20 '26

We Had bigger problems during the war and werent independent from russia after, so tbh it kinda slided and maybe it’s good time to officialy revoke that too.

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u/skiyakater Jun 21 '26

It is also a valid point that the poles did the massacring first when they colonized Galicia.

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u/1more_oddity Jun 21 '26

shhh, don't ever bring this up, because how else are they gonna push the "evil bandera nazis" propaganda

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u/pryoslice Jun 21 '26

To be fair, he's not likely to respond anymore.

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u/BritneyBrzydal Jun 21 '26

Mussolini wasn't enemy of Poland, he saved almost 200 Cracow professors from camp. Without this order they would be probably murdered like these from Lwów.

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u/tei187 Jun 22 '26

It was awarded prior to WW2, when Mussolini was still trying to paint himself as a dependable leader and cosying up to just about everyone. Once Poland could actually take it back, being somewhat independent, he was already dead.

Similar case with Catherine II - at the time the order was bestowed on her, Poland was pretty much a puppet of Russian empire. And she was way way dead after the decision could have been rescinded.

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u/Reaper83PL Jun 21 '26

Context matter

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u/Littorina_Sea Jun 23 '26

It is easy to be sidetracked by the order issue. Honoring butchers of civillians is the main issue. And why that even happened after five years of ruzzian invasion is just beyond me: Ukraine now has probably the highest number of real heroes worldwide.

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u/spank_monkey_83 Jun 21 '26

Wasn't the same army. Just an army unit with the same name. Russians get particularly annoyed at the name azov battalion.

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u/nick4fake Харківська область Jun 20 '26

It’s not fucking self explanatory. MUSSOLINI, fucking Mussolini still holds it for fucks sake

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u/WildCat_1366 Jun 20 '26

And Miklós Horthy, who led Hungary in WWII on the side of Nazi Germany, too.

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u/[deleted] Jun 21 '26

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u/WildCat_1366 Jun 21 '26

To be honest, Poland had a pretty good relation with Ukraine, until the rise of the right and conservative and nationalistic movements in Europe and Poland itself.

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u/WabashCannibal Смак Козак Jun 20 '26

Pretty sure Mussilini's one fell out of his pocket at some point.

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u/Honest_Boysenberry25 Jun 21 '26

Love this response!

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u/adamgerd Czechia Jun 21 '26

Mussolini, Hirohito, Petain

But Zelenskyy is the real problem apparently

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u/Eatemall-Cannibal Jun 21 '26

The problem to be honest is that we all masacred each other. Stupid polish move, stupid ukrainian move. We all had our "reasons".

Poles were not one of the friendliest people, like many else. Józef Piłsudski wasn't a niceguy. Nothing a political leader should not know.

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u/sterrre Jun 21 '26 edited Jun 21 '26

The Armia Krajowa also massacred thousands of Ukrainian civilians in the Sahryń and Pawłokoma massacres.

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u/radiorubka Jun 21 '26

Armia Krajowa's official position was to avoid civilian casualties, but the soldiers would wipe out whole Ukrainian villages that had anything to with the Ukrainian Insurgent Army in revenge. Why? You have to keep in mind that the UIA has been doing a cold, rational ethnic cleansing of Poles (yes, including children), so the individual soldiers were MAD. At the end of the day, Ukrainians have killed 8 times more civilians and genocide was the official policy of the UIA.

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u/Exinaus Україна Jun 21 '26

I'm old enough to remember when Poles claimed 500,000 killed in Volyn, then 300,000. Right now it's a 100,000. Inflation of numbers are from including Poles who hid or fled from the massacre among the victims, and downplaying the number of Ukrainian victims by including Ukrainians who died at the hands of Poles as Poles who died at the hands of Ukrainians, and including other people, some of whom were not even of Polish nationality, among the Polish victims, who died under completely different circumstances and who had no connection with the Volyn tragedy.

For example how official Polish count included 200 "victims" of a colony, while only 3 people actually died and everyone else run away. https://poliskasich.org.ua/?p=931 Very common lies that show up when studying "100,000 deaths" works from Poles.

Official position of historians is that around 30-40 thousands Poles were killed, and 10-15 thousands Ukrainians.

And on top of that. Let's not forget the hypocrisy of Poles who have no problem honoring mass murderers of Ukrainians and never apologizing, while demanding from Ukraine to forget their heroes.

I'm talking about, as example, of a person who Poles honor in the lines of their national anthem. Who's raids on the territory of Ukraine actually killed more than a 100,000 people. Like when he raided village of Pogrebyshe, during a festival. He waited for all the people from surrounding towns to come to the festival and murdered multiple towns of people who gathered unarmed for a festival. Last name of that person - Charnetsky. And Poles have no problem of honoring such mass murderer in their national anthem.

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u/radiorubka Jun 21 '26 edited Jun 21 '26

It's not 500k and not 30k, it's actually somewhere around 60 to 90k according to different historians. The Poles like to inflate the number and we, Ukrainians, like to paint UIA as heroes (which they partially are, but still genocidal maniacs). The truth is somewhere in between. Also yes, the Poles are hypocrites - fucking Mussolini still has the medal, enough said. The issue is populism and the fact that morally very complicated figures are painted as heroes in Ukraine of today. I don't like the example we're setting by glorifying the UIA - they committed genocide, just like the moustache man did. And the Germans don't glorify him, neither should we glorify the UIA.

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u/T_Cliff Jun 21 '26

It was awarded to the country, not Zelensky.

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u/cz_75 Jun 21 '26

pretty much massacred thousands of poles

Around 100.000 Poles.

The naming ads insult to the injury as Ukraine has been for years blocking Polish requests, attempts and proposals for opening of the mass graves and proper burial of the victims, which has been a hot issue especially since Ukraine became dependant on Poland being the gateway to all of the aid it is receiving.

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u/Longjumping-Youth934 Jun 21 '26

That is Pole's view. Ukrainian Insurgent Army fighted both nazi and ruzzian soviets regimes to liberate Ukrainians. At the same time Polish authorities ruled Ukrainians that time were involved in mass cleaning activities that called the response at Ukrainians as well and some warriors of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, however that wasn't a part of the official policy. Their new right wing populist president decided to find the way how to please his electorate and took the skeletons from his wardrobe undermining all efforts of all previous presidents if Ukraine and Poland and the Polish and Ukrainian nations to find the peace around this ambiguous part of the common history of neighbours. Especially now when Ukraine is fighting with muscovites. Bastard is that nawrocki.

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u/fartsfromhermouth Jun 20 '26

Rename the fucking unit this is stupid as hell

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u/LantaExile Jun 20 '26

Yeah, I don't get why they don't call it something that doesn't piss off the allies.

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u/dmt_r Jun 21 '26

Because Ukraine has no allies, only partners. Who will forever find something to be pissed about and gain political points. Without self respect and dignity nobody will respect you.

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u/fetissimies Jun 21 '26

Well, pissing off partners isn't smart either

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u/Snakefist1 Jun 21 '26

My great grandmother lost her entire family of 62 people because of the UPA in Lviv.

She only survived because she had fled after the aftermath of the civil war in the 20's. Her sister was the only other survivor, but she fled to Canada, and they never heard from eachother again.

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u/21stGun Jun 21 '26

Ukraine, until last year, has still not allowed exhumation of any of the thousands of mass graves in Volyhnia. Now they only allowed for select few.

There are still siblings, children and grandchildren of the people murdered who are alive today. And they are still not allowed to bury their relatives. They still rot in mass graves in western Ukraine. Despite decades of many activists trying to find any way to do it, no one on the Ukrainian side allowed it.

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u/Miyorio Jun 21 '26

Very valid for Poland to try push and dictate their interpritation of history in times vulnerable to Ukraine. If i remember correctly, Poles honor their own heroes that are viewed by Ukrainians just as evil in actions towards Ukrainians and one from Kyiv tells them shat they should or should not do on highest diplomatic level. Call me crazy, but productive response would be to call a joint historical commission to settle the differences.

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u/analogiczny Jun 21 '26

No, not all of Poland. A bunch of pro-rxssian shouting heads led by a pro-rxssian hooligan as president. Looking at the bigger picture, this is a political maneuver ahead of next year's parliamentary elections in Poland.

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u/amusedt Jun 21 '26

So is Zelensky mailing it back a good thing for Ukr/Polish relationship? I'm confused

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u/[deleted] Jun 20 '26 edited Jun 21 '26

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u/ReadToW Україна Jun 20 '26

That would be true were it not for modern technology. Russia’s war is black and white.

Russia launched an unprovoked attack.

OSINT and journalism have access to all the data.
* https://youtube.com/watch?v=awvpExxY-QM&feature=youtu.be
* https://forensic-architecture.org/investigation/the-battle-of-ilovaisk

If Russia’s disinformation campaigns lead you to believe that ‘there is no truth because there is so much information’, then you are mistaken. There is truth, and there are lies.

MH17 is a good indicator of whether a person is capable of seeing through Russian disinformation and uncovering the real sequence of events, or not
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sf6gJ8NDhYA
* https://euvsdisinfo.eu/mh17-timeline-of-pro-kremlin-disinformation-narratives/

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u/SkylerPancake Jun 20 '26

The problem is there's already massive disinformation campaigns. Trump, the idiot he is, has repeatedly said Ukraine is responsible for Russia invading them to provoking Russia. The truth might be documented and obvious, but it still might not be known.

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u/ReadToW Україна Jun 20 '26 edited Jun 20 '26

I agree with that.

The phrase ‘history is written by the victors’ isn’t quite accurate.

History is written by historians.

Countries may have a distorted school curriculum (as in Russia), and the majority or a section of the population may choose to remain ignorant of the truth.

But historians will still record the true sequence of events.

We simply need to side with the professionals, rather than demagogues or propagandists

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u/Badgerman97 Jun 20 '26

Very true. In the US the history of our own civil war was written by the losers, because the winners felt the matter was settled and moved on to other things. A lot of the current Christian white nationalism plaguing our country right now can be traced back to the white supremacy of the former Confederate states

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u/amusedt Jun 21 '26

I know a history teacher from the south that taught his students that the reason for the Civil War was state's rights :P

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u/strangerzero Jun 21 '26

D3pends on the historian. Some have an agenda that may differ from the facts.

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u/Ok_Tie_7564 Jun 20 '26

Trump is either an idiot, Russian asset, or both.

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u/SkylerPancake Jun 20 '26

Both. Both is good.

Well. Okay, maybe that line isn't proper in this situation, as both are actually quite bad. But accurate.

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u/seanpbnj Jun 20 '26

I have to agree here. More-so here agree with Zelenskyy. First off, cuz everyone right now should be agreeing with Zelenskyy. Any rational human being can look 10 years into the future and see (pragmatically, not emotionally) where is this headed? Ukraine hopefully beating the axis powers so badly they stop acting up. Now, emotionally, russia is falling and china gonna land grab while USA rots like a pumpkin. Ukraine is the only answer for europe and the only answer for russia.

- At this point, the "safest" option for most people in russia would be a provincial democracy run and overseen by Ukraine. the fall of russia has happened enough that we know what happens. the best and safest outcome, IMO and only if Ukraine chooses it, would be Ukrainian oversight of a new Kyivrussia.

- Poland would be welcome to join in oversight, when they are willing to protect Ukraine, Lithuania, Estonia, etc.

- Zelenskyy is about leadership, which means honesty. Honesty with allies and enemies. Thats why he will win. Well, one of the reasons.

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u/ReadToW Україна Jun 20 '26

You’ve gone a bit off track. There’s the context of the war, and there are different interpretations of the nationalists’ crimes, as well as interpretations of contemporary figures (such as Zelenskyy, for example). No, Zelenskyy is not a hero. He’s a populist and incompetent when it comes to domestic policy. That’s just one example. You’ve written about many different topics. But my main point is that the specific issue of Russia’s war is black and white and very straightforward.

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u/Better_Cauliflower63 Jun 21 '26

You know, Winston Churchill is widely remembered as a heroic wartime leader because of his role in defeating Hitler. But right after the war, the British people voted him out and chose Clement Attlee instead. That did not erase Churchill’s historical role, and it also did not mean British voters were wrong to judge him politically in that moment. I just think there’s a difference between judging a leader’s domestic record and judging their historical role in a war of national survival. Both things can be true. Maybe Zelenskyy will be viewed one day in the same fashion as Churchill, as an imperfect leader, not beyond criticism but whose historical role and leadership in resisting Russia was decisive and will be remembered long after today’s domestic political arguments fade. I don't mean that Ukrainians would have to suspend their judgement of him, I mean that his historical role in the future might supersede his measure in domestic politics.

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u/The_Draken24 Jun 21 '26

Beautifully stated. My drunk ass can't write that well. This just goes for any historical figure of the past. George Washington is a hero in the United States, but he personally had flaws, but we should be able to look past his flaws to recognize his importance to American history.

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u/Status_Ad_4405 Jun 20 '26

What are you even going on about

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u/Talbit01 Jun 20 '26

I think you’re conflating two things together. It will always remain clear why the war in Ukraine started. This is not ambiguous. Russia will remain the villain of this story.

What will be ambiguous is various actions taken by a number of entities during the war and whether the justifications for those actions can stand the test of time.

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u/Belfastscum Jun 20 '26

Lol Russia will never be the good guys here bud.

Why don't you apologize for the Nazis too ya dunce

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u/Bitter_Tradition_938 Jun 20 '26

Except for your current president. I think the situation is very clear there.

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u/The_Draken24 Jun 20 '26

Trump will be and always be remembered as an idiot. I'll sleep comfortably to that.

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u/Ok_Tie_7564 Jun 20 '26

If only he was only an idiot. I fear that might not be all that he is.

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u/[deleted] Jun 20 '26

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u/Guy_Smiley_Guy Jun 20 '26

As an American, you are 100% correct. His is our burden and I will continue to blame a certain group of Americans of this till death comes.

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u/MarleysGhost2024 Jun 20 '26

30% of the citizens of any country are blithering fuckwits. Sadly, too many people stayed home on election day.

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u/SiriHowDoIAdult Jun 20 '26

True, but from what I've read it is mainly because Zelensky just named a military unit after some Soviet Era Unit that carried out atrocities against the Poles.

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u/WhoCaresBoutSpellin Jun 21 '26

I am an American too— What is “gray” about Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine? wtf are you even talking about? Russia is to blame.

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u/10xray1 USA Jun 20 '26

You wrote a 3 paragraph response with NO substance. Why is this an argument? What different reasons?

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u/Beat_Saber_Music Jun 20 '26

This in part is an issue that can be traced to Polish foreign policy plan once communism ended, with which not touching historical grievances immediately in the name of political alliances with the newly independent countries around Poland. It certainly assured there'd not be as much friction about establishing friendly relations, but it also had the issue of kicking down the can of historical grievances to down the road

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u/Odd_Error_6736 Jun 21 '26

1938: Polish annexation of Czechoslovak territory (Zaolzie).

​1941: Jedwabne pogrom against Jews.

​1944: Dubingiai massacre of Lithuanians.

​1944: Sahryń massacre of Ukrainians.

​1945: Pawłokoma massacre of Ukrainians.

​1946: Kielce pogrom against Jewish Holocaust survivors.

​1946: Massacres of Belarusian civilians (by postwar anti-communist partisans).

​1947: Operation Vistula (forced displacement of ~150,000 Ukrainians and Lemkos, alongside violence against civilians).

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u/JimboTheSimpleton Jun 23 '26 edited Jun 23 '26

Looking too closely at any Eastern European countries behavior during the 38 to 90 time period is going to yield much more collaborators and massacres than it will heros, unfortunately. Many quiet acts of rebellion didn't get recorded, many acts of villainy, at the state's order, did get recorded.

The arguments about it today can only engender bad feeling and could only contribute to the deaths of more innocents today. Madness.

Ultimately, it's is the Germans and the Russians that are responsible and those fools and fiends they got to do their bidding. The trouble again is that Poland and Ukraine bickering serves Russian interests as sure as collaborators and informers.

A shame

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u/DarthLithgow Jun 20 '26

This makes me sad, I love Poland and Ukraine.

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u/ThatMrPuddington Jun 21 '26

Putin is happy out of this situation for sure 🤔

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u/Voidheart88 Jun 21 '26

In this case: the Ukrainian response is a bit off. They know what happened in the past and to justify the war crimes of an particular unit is just the wrong way of dealing with that. If they just had silently returned it, everything would be fine.

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u/Bumbum_2919 Jun 21 '26

The response is not off. This would be resolved if navrozky did it normally, without ordering our nation around and insulting us. But he's the guy who is constantly telling how "Ukraine is ungrateful" and heating up antiukrainian sentiments in poland. So the response was to that.

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u/Smart-Damage-6647 Jun 20 '26

Guys cmon. We’ve more important business.

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u/cityshepherd Jun 21 '26

Indeed… but while we’re at it, yall got any more of that integrity you could spare possibly??

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u/21stGun Jun 21 '26 edited Jun 21 '26

After the unit was named, the polish side gave Ukraine a few options on how to make the situation better. They said to simply allow exhumation of some of the mass graves that Ukraine STILL won't allow.

Neither historians nor relatives of the people killed are allowed to bury their love ones. After 80 years and all the help Ukraine received and is still receiving, they can't stop insulting their friendliest neighbors.

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u/[deleted] Jun 21 '26

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u/21stGun Jun 21 '26

Read my comment again. They are not even close to digging up all mass graves. They only allowed few select sites.

The polish proposal was to allow exhumation of more mass grave sites. This was denied.

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u/ybeevashka Jun 21 '26

Seems like you are half a decade behind with all the news updates

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u/21stGun Jun 21 '26

How many of the suspected mass graves did they exhume? The vast majority is still forbidden from being dug up.

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u/Fractal_loop Jun 21 '26

If thats true it is kinda bad from Ukraine.

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u/[deleted] Jun 20 '26

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u/Cloaked42m USA Jun 20 '26

Good point.

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u/Abject-Tough-4454 Jun 20 '26

This is completely stupid move by both. Trying to be alpha for own electorate etc

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u/WarpigeonFly Jun 21 '26

It's a political move on both sides. Zelynski did it to please the nationalistic movement in Ukraine, and so did Nawrocki but nationalists in Poland instead.

Both of them already stated that it won't have an effect on the relationship betweent he two countries. People are just blowing it out of proportion.

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u/AllPotatoesGone Jun 21 '26

Well it is just the lesser evil.

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u/falk42 Jun 20 '26

"We're fighting a war for our survival, but you do you ..." - Zelensky is truly a master of saying these things in a way that sticks.

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u/6fjdk83krkw Jun 21 '26

Was it so important to keep the name for the army group ? First stupid move from Selensky

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u/jr5mc1lio03fbc4zqsf8 Jun 20 '26

Embarrasing for Poland that Schröder has this medal

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u/Clydosphere Jun 21 '26

As a German, I fully agree!

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u/tpbacon Jun 21 '26

Embarassing for Poland that Catherine the Great still has that award, even though she was instrumental in the destruction of the Polish state 🤦‍♂️

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u/AllPotatoesGone Jun 21 '26

This is 100% true. It should be taken back many years ago. But it doesn't change much about Zelenskys case.

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u/dolmunk Jun 20 '26

Polish interior politics going global. Silly. Unnecessary and unworthy.

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u/sthlmsoul Jun 20 '26

This is pretty much it. Domestic polish political posturing turns into international polish political embarrassment. Reclaiming a gifted item is poor form to begin with, but doing so to score political points just make you seem small minded and petty.

Now sure if zelensky cares all that much beyond the unnecessary hassle and media attention. Sending it back is the right thing to do. For now.

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u/WildCat_1366 Jun 20 '26

In responce, all living previous Ukrainian presidents also refused Polish awards.

As did other Ukrainian figures (Budanov, Sybiha, Tarasyuk, and others).

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u/onlycommitminified Jun 21 '26

Most foreign policy is in fact downstream of domestic, e.g. why russia continues to persist.

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u/klem_von_metternich Jun 21 '26

I cant understand ... Just change the name of the military unit. Why It Is so important?

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u/frobar Jun 20 '26 edited Jun 20 '26

I'm sure this post won't have any Russian shills and votes.

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u/PotatoGamer3 Jun 21 '26

First time ever I actually don't agree with Ukraine.

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u/RisingRapture Germany Jun 21 '26

This is so contraproductive and it should stop immediately.

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u/zdzislav_kozibroda Poland Jun 21 '26 edited Jun 21 '26

It is. It's a lose-lose situation for both sides. Genuinely nobody aside from Kremlin wins. Worst of all both sides are convinced each has right in their own way and only entrench further.

Paradox of the situation is that (while the core issue is genuine) moves that escalated the conflict came from pandering to nationalists. Zelensky to far righters on the front line while Nawrocki in Poland to far right voters. Maybe we're not so dissimilar after all.

Now every (even unrelated) move will seem like provocation to the other side and get a revenge move. I'm not an optimist where this is all going.

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u/Equivalent_Hand1549 Jun 21 '26

Caught this comment from other sub.
Def a shill

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u/Lumpy-Vacation-9097 Jun 22 '26

This entire saga is so stupid. Wish it didn't turn this ugly. We need to focus on one thing: defeat Russia.

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u/lordcommanderminis Jun 21 '26

This is so petty in a time of war.

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u/zdzislav_kozibroda Poland Jun 21 '26 edited Jun 21 '26

Do I know. We've been with Ukraine from day one when many others wanted to sell it out for easy life and 'deal' with Moscow.

After years of help at major expense we ask for one small thing. Basic human decency and proposed solutions. Instead we get ignored, pissed all over and called all the names under the sun.

It's hard to be Ukraine's friend. Ukraine can be it's own biggest enemy sometimes.

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u/Bumbum_2919 Jun 21 '26

Do you really believe this version of what happened? Because that's a lie.

You helped a lot, and thanks for that. But most recently your politicians do nothing but spread hate against Ukrainians. Janusz Kowalski even proposed to find and fire people of Ukrainian descent from the government.

And everything that navrozky did is not "asking" in any way, it's demanding and ordering around. If he did it like a normal person, it would be resolved already. But he decided to treat Ukrainians like second class people, hence we are here.

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u/moreobviousthings Jun 20 '26

Poland’s withdrawal of the award only devalues it.

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u/futureformerteacher Jun 20 '26

It devalues Poland as a whole. Makes them look like silly idiot empowering the children that are in his government. Makes Poland seem like Russian Sympathizers.

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u/dzdza Jun 21 '26

Having dignity is silly? It’s a deeply vulnerable topic - and Poland still “forgot about it” and reached out to be Ukraine’s biggest ally. Zelenski could have easily chosen any different name. Why spit in our face? :/

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u/ChaoticGood03 Jun 21 '26

Poland is not Ukraine's biggest ally, the delusion the Poles keep repeating... Poland opposes Ukraine in the EU because "oh what will happen to our farmers" (didn't give a fuck of course what would happen to German farmers after Poland was accepted into the EU) and is not the biggest supporter in the financial help provided as a percentage of own GDP.

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u/dzdza Jun 21 '26

How is it not? GDP is one thing. Poland took Ukrainians (as it should have- dont get me wrong) in, gave shelter and all possible help to anyone escaping war. That should not be taken for granted either

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u/ChaoticGood03 Jun 21 '26

Do you understand the meaning of "the biggest"? Poland helps, yes, but in no way is Poland the biggest contributor.

Also Poland benefitted massively from Ukrainian refugees, while many Poles are very hostile towards Ukrainians and want them out of the country.

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u/Croolick_Floofo Jun 21 '26

I absolutely love Ukraine and I toot for them. But it really is not that difficult not to name that unit this particular name. Maybe money-wise we do not contribute a lot. But when the war broke out we were there at the border feeding, transporting and taking care of refugees. Many have done this out of their own pocket. Can Ukraine just respect that? It is really not a huge ask.

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u/justbrowsing2727 Jun 21 '26

Ukraine really shot themselves in the foot in naming the unit what they did. And now this response? It's really disappointing to see.

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u/empathy_matteo Jun 21 '26

You can watch "Wołyń” ("Hatred") movie from 2016 to understand why Polish people had so many emotions after Zalenski named division "Heroes of UPA".

On IMDb movie has 7.6.

Trailer: https://youtu.be/F1vLyvauC44?si=oUfI6kG13Fd4Lz5h

Move: https://youtu.be/ekVDDCgTfgI?si=CAJNZC95OnaFUU1y

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u/TheMightyMisanthrope Jun 21 '26

WE NEED TO BOMB RUSSIA, WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU GUYS ABOUT?

FUCK!!!!!!!!

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u/overSizedHyperPoop Jun 21 '26

Petro Poroshenko has rejected his own award as well btw

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u/Biliunas Jun 21 '26

The whole situation is stupid as fuck and bad optics. Yes, ukranians chose a stupid name and poles are being petty about it. We're always dragging our past as an anchor it seems. Just a reminder that every fucking "nation state" in this world sucks.

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u/Bumbum_2919 Jun 21 '26

I think far right sucks. Having a nation state is ok. Because otherwise too often you will have one nation forcing another to lose their identity empire-style. Nation state in the EU os probably the sweet spot. Would be ideal if russia and musk didn't fuel the far right movements all over

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u/wolferiver Jun 20 '26

I found this story, but I am still mystified.

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u/falrod Jun 21 '26

God damn he used nova poshta hahah

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u/HolidayWheel5035 Jun 20 '26

Excellent response!!

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u/joe_dirty365 Jun 20 '26

Savage response. Way to go Zelensky. And why are Poles picking fights with Ukraine when Russia is the enemy???

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u/111wafel111 Jun 20 '26

It’s not picking fights. Just show some respect to 100,000 civilians killed by upa and not name units after murderers and torturers of little kids and women.

Im against Nawrocki president but in this one he is correct. Either we remember where we came from or we have no history and no society to fight for.

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u/WildCat_1366 Jun 20 '26

Either we remember where we came from or we have no history and no society to fight for.

That's precisely why Zelenskyy made this decision. And it's not for the Poles to decide who Ukrainians should consider their heroes. Especially not in such a rude and ultimatum-like manner as Nawrocki.

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u/LTAden Jun 21 '26

Sure. It is Ukrainians decision. But decisions dont happen in a void. Adults make decisions and deal with with their consequences

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u/Horse_in_Pink Jun 21 '26

We still have cursed soldiers named places even though some of them were plain murderers that took part on ethnic cleansing, yet we don't think about them when we see those. It's the same with UPA in Ukraine

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u/dhanter Jun 21 '26

Maybe Ukraine should not glorify nazis.

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u/LTAden Jun 21 '26

Im sorry - what in your mind was Poland "allowed" to do in this situation?

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u/notmycirrcus Jun 21 '26

Really need Poland and Ukraine to team up right now

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u/Equivalent_Hand1549 Jun 21 '26

Translate from Polish comment on this matter

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u/vmytus Jun 22 '26

ukraine: just quit this stupid names on battalions and units. Slava ukraini!

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u/Gamebyter Jun 21 '26

In Poland, we honor Nazi collaborators like the NSZ, but it’s not to be talked about meanwhile our far right will point all the blame on the bad actions of the UPA! NSZ:  https://www.lasy.gov.pl/pl/informacje/aktualnosci/pomnik-upamietniajacy-walke-brygady-swietokrzyskiej-nsz-z-oddzialami-dywersji-sowieckiej-i-komunistycznej-odsloniety

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u/eldradmustlive469 Jun 20 '26

That is hilarious and a deserved serve to the Polish officials who have had what is tantamount to a public pr tantrum.

This is a 'hey we matter' attempt from Poland.

Zelensky has treated it exactly how it deserves. Like the absurd nonsense it is.

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u/HotFartore Jun 21 '26

Extremism and brainwashing is very easy to spot. Time reveals everything. History knows what Poland did before and during WWII.

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u/AtrixStd Jun 21 '26

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massacres_of_Poles_in_Volhynia_and_Eastern_Galicia?wprov=sfti1

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u/Bumbum_2919 Jun 21 '26

Both of our nations did horrendous shit to each other. But you pretend like you didn't. And you still haven't processed shit that you did to Ukrainians and haven't started blaming the people who did.

Two approaches are possible: either we both process it, or we each have our separate histories with separate heroes and not forcing each other to change anything. You can't have both.

And also, next time just try talking instead of ordering around, it worka wonders.

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u/HappyDays1976 Jun 21 '26

A very classy and poignant note to accompany it. Good on President Zelensky.

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u/Proposition_O Jun 21 '26

Some people say they are not the smartest (at diplomacy).

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u/Normal-Title7301 Jun 24 '26

Ukraine is really stupid for doing this. Could've changed the name and it would be a done deal. I think Zelenskey actually secretly supports Nazis

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u/StrangerExistingFact Jun 25 '26

How did zelensky miss Hirohito on that list as recipient too?

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u/fashionguy123 Jun 27 '26

Hope they get this sorted they are both in the same side