Ukraine responds to Polish criticism over military unit's new honorary name
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha (photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha responded to criticism from Poland over the decision to award the Northern Special Operations Center of Ukraine's Special Operations Forces the honorary title "Named after the Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army," according to Sybiha.
According to the foreign minister, Ukrainian service members themselves chose the name for the unit. At the same time, he emphasized that "our defenders deserve unconditional respect."
"Today, it is they who, at the cost of their health and often their lives, hold the front line and protect all of Europe from the Russian threat. And they pay the highest price for it. I know for certain that our military personnel did not have anything anti-Polish in mind. For them, it was about honoring those who many years ago also fought against imperial Moscow, Bolshevik-communist occupation, and repression," Sybiha said.
He recalled that Ukraine, like Poland, "fought very hard for its independence."
"We are grateful to Poland for its leadership role in supporting Ukraine during this terrible time of war. We seek to discuss all issues, including the most difficult ones, in a spirit of mutual understanding and openness. We call for dialogue and strengthening our relations in line with the priorities of security and the prosperous future of our states," the minister added.
Sybiha also recalled the "constructive dialogue" that the two countries have managed to build in recent years.
"It must not be undermined, nor should the wheel of hatred be set in motion. Especially at a time when all of us — Ukrainians, Poles, and other Europeans — once again face a threat from our age-old enemy, Russia," the foreign minister said.
The minister called for people to "lower the emotional temperature, leave our shared history to professional historians, and focus together on countering our common enemy, strengthening our European security, and protecting the free future of our peoples."
Dispute with Poland over the Ukrainian Insurgent Army
On May 26, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree awarding the Separate Northern Special Operations Center the honorary title "Named after the Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army." The decision was made in recognition of exemplary performance in combat missions.
In response to the move, Polish President Karol Nawrocki said he was considering the possibility of stripping Zelenskyy of Poland's highest state award.
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry stressed that Kyiv had no intention of offending the Polish people. The ministry emphasized that for Ukraine, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army symbolizes resistance to Moscow's imperial policies and occupation.
At the same time, there have been calls in Poland to block Ukraine's accession to the EU because of Zelenskyy's decision regarding the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. Authorities in Lublin also removed the Ukrainian flag from city hall, where it had flown since 2022 as a sign of solidarity.
