Poland Warns Ukraine Against Honoring Nationalist Leaders in New Pantheon
Poland has cautioned Ukraine that the planned Heroes' Memorial in Kyiv, which honors contentious nationalist figures, might threaten Ukraine's aspirations for Euro-Atlantic integration. Marcin Przydacz, the foreign policy adviser to Polish President Karol Nawrocki, described this move as 'short-sighted politics.' This warning comes after President Volodymyr Zelensky enacted a law to establish the Pantheon, which commemorates the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), known for its involvement in the mass killings of Poles and Jews during World War II. Recently, Ukraine held a state funeral for Yevhen Konovalets, a nationalist leader killed in 1938. Przydacz condemned the ideology behind these honors, likening it to 'chauvinism, an ideology close to Nazism,' especially after Zelensky awarded a military unit the title 'Heroes of the UPA.'
Key facts
- Poland warned Ukraine against honoring nationalist leaders in a planned Heroes' Memorial in Kyiv.
- Marcin Przydacz, adviser to Polish head of state Karol Nawrocki, called it 'short-sighted politics'.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law establishing the national Heroes' Memorial (Pantheon).
- The Pantheon will honor members of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA).
- UPA was responsible for mass murders of Poles and Jews in Volhynia during WWII.
- Remains of Yevhen Konovalets, OUN leader, were transferred to Ukraine and given a state funeral.
- Konovalets led OUN from 1929, inspired by fascism and Nazism; UPA was its military arm.
- In June, Zelensky gave a military unit the title 'Heroes of the UPA', causing Poland to withdraw an order from him.
Entities
Artists
- Marcin Przydacz
- Karol Nawrocki
- Volodymyr Zelensky
- Yevhen Konovalets
- Andriy Melnyk
Institutions
- Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA)
- Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN)
Locations
- Poland
- Ukraine
- Kyiv
- Volhynia
- Warsaw