Zelensky Returns Poland's Highest Award After Revocation

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Saturday that he had sent back the Order of the White Eagle to Polish President Karol Navrocki. This move came a day after Navrocki decided to strip Zelensky of Poland's highest state decoration.

Zelensky posted a photo of the order and a shipping receipt on his Telegram channel. He stated that since the order has also been awarded to historical figures he considers problematic, Ukraine will not argue about it. Zelensky thanked the Polish people for their support and cooperation in the fight against Russian aggression, emphasizing that Ukraine will continue to defend itself and achieve a "dignified peace."

Navrocki revoked the award after Zelensky named a Ukrainian Special Operations Forces unit after "UPA heroes" — referring to the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, which is blamed for the mass murder of Polish civilians in Volhynia during World War II. This caused widespread outrage in Poland.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk criticized Navrocki's decision, warning that rising tensions between Poland and Ukraine could benefit Russia. He urged both presidents to reduce disagreements rather than deepen them.

Several Ukrainian officials, including Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha and Presidential Chief of Staff Kyrylo Budanov, announced they would renounce their Polish awards.

The Volhynia massacre, in which between 60,000 and 100,000 Poles were killed between 1943 and 1945, remains a painful issue in Ukrainian-Polish relations.