Akshay DidwaniyaPolish President Karol Nawrocki withdrew Zelensky’s Order of the White Eagle after Kyiv named a military unit after a Ukrainian group accused of killing Poles in WWII, deepening tensions between the allies.
Zelensky Mails Back the Medal
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has sent Poland’s highest state award back to Warsaw. The move comes right after Poland’s president took the honor away from him.
A bitter dispute over wartime history triggered this fresh diplomatic clash. Zelensky said Ukrainians felt the award “was meant for the Ukrainian People and our army.” He explained his decision in a social media post.
“Today, I sent the Order back to the President of Poland. I believe the future will confirm the respect Ukrainians deserve.”
He posted this message on X. Photos of the Polish medal accompanied it along with a postal receipt showing it was headed to the Polish presidential office.
Why Nawrocki Pulled the Honor
President Karol Nawrocki decided to revoke Zelensky’s Order of the White Eagle. The reason Zelensky named a Ukrainian military unit after a controversial wartime organization.
Former Polish leader Andrzej Duda had given Zelensky this award back in 2023. It honored his work on security, resilience, and human rights defense.
Zelensky issued a decree on May 26. It named a Special Operations Forces unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army also called UPA. This group operated through the 1940s and 1950s. Poland has long accused it of mass killings.
Nawrocki addressed the controversy in a 13-minute social media speech. He said
“For the majority of Polish society, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army remains above all a formation responsible for cruel crimes against the citizens of the Polish Republic during World War II.”
Poland’s Backlash and Political Undercurrents
Ukraine’s decree sparked sharp criticism across Poland. Warsaw has sheltered millions of Ukrainian refugees since the war began. It also remains one of Kyiv’s strongest backers against Russia’s four-year invasion.
However Nawrocki is a nationalist leader. He has previously used anti-Ukrainian sentiment to boost his political standing. Ukrainians living in Poland now face growing hostility, despite their economic contributions.
Nawrocki insisted Poland’s military support for Ukraine wouldn’t shrink because of this decision.
Zelensky’s Response
Zelensky expressed gratitude toward Poland in his Saturday post. He said Ukraine remains willing to resolve historical disagreements with its neighbor.
“I am proud of our people and of EVERY Ukrainian warrior.”
Ukraine’s Presidential Office chief, Kyrylo Budanov, reacted sharply on Telegram. He called Nawrocki’s move “an unfriendly act toward our people.” He added it was “a gift to the Moscow aggressor, which will certainly use it against both of our countries.”
Four senior Ukrainian officials including Budanov announced they too would return Polish state honors.
Not Everyone in Ukraine Agreed
Some Ukrainian voices pushed back against this retaliatory step. Former Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk criticized the move on X.
“One harmful and incorrect decision by the current president of Poland cannot be corrected by other incorrect decisions of ours.”
Poland is set to host a major Ukraine reconstruction event next week. Zelensky had originally planned to attend.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk a political rival of Nawrocki urged both leaders to cool down. He wrote on social media Friday night that the dispute “delights Putin and shocks our allies.” He added “The front line runs elsewhere.”
Russian Strikes Continue Across Ukraine
Attacks on Ukrainian cities persisted through Saturday. Russian bombs hit an apartment building in Kharkiv, the country’s second-largest city. At least one person died, and nine others including a 6-year-old child were wounded.
Rescuers pulled a body from the rubble hours later. Mayor Ihor Terekhov confirmed this on Telegram. The bombs struck a low-rise building in Kharkiv’s Kholodnohirskiy district early that morning. Regional administration head Oleh Syniehubov said nine people were injured, with five hospitalized.
A Russian drone also struck a civilian car in Kharkiv on Friday evening. One man died, and the woman driving was wounded, Syniehubov added.
Russia later launched guided bombs near the northern city of Sumy. Local official Oleh Hryhorov reported one civilian death and damage to at least 20 homes.
Strikes on southeastern Zaporizhzhia killed four people and wounded six more. Regional head Ivan Fedorov confirmed guided aerial bombs caused the damage.
Moscow has not commented on any of these attacks.
Ukraine Hits Back at Russian Oil Infrastructure
Ukraine’s air force reported shooting down 92 of 99 Russian drones overnight. Seven drones still struck targets across three locations.
Meanwhile, Russian air defenses blocked a drone strike on an oil refinery in Tyumen, Western Siberia. Governor Alexander Moor confirmed no damage occurred and staff had been evacuated safely.
Ukraine has repeatedly targeted Russian oil facilities throughout this war. The goal cutting Moscow’s war revenue and exposing ordinary Russians to its consequences. Several regions have already reported fuel shortages.
On Thursday, Ukraine struck a major Moscow oil refinery for the second time in a week. It was one of the largest drone attacks since Russia’s full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022. Thick black smoke rose over the capital, and hundreds of flights were disrupted.
Mayur Mohta
Aditya Didwaniya
Pratik Agrawal