Former Polish Ambassador Returns Ukrainian Honor Over Historical Dispute
The move follows a series of events in Ukraine that have sparked criticism in Poland. Among them was the state reburial of Andrey Melnik, a co-founder of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists in 1929. Melnik later became a rival of Stepan Bandera within the nationalist movement. Both figures remain controversial because of their historical ties to movements that collaborated with Nazi Germany during World War II.
Reports also noted that Ukraine recently named a commando unit after the “Heroes of UPA,” referring to the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, the military wing of the OUN.
Cichocki's decision concerns the Ukrainian Order of Merit he received in 2022 while serving as Poland’s ambassador in Kyiv. The action comes amid growing criticism in Poland regarding official recognition of nationalist organizations whose legacy remains deeply disputed.
Historical accounts cited by critics point to the OUN’s goal of establishing an ethnically homogeneous Ukrainian state, while the UPA has been accused of carrying out mass killings involving Poles, Jews, Russians and other minority groups during the war period.
In remarks to a Polish news agency, Cichocki said he had returned the award through the Ukrainian Embassy. At the same time, he emphasized that he continues to support Ukrainians defending their country against Russia, as well as those opposing “historical lies and corruption.”
The issue reflects continuing tensions between Poland and Ukraine over differing interpretations of historical events and the legacy of nationalist movements active during World War II.
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