Cichocki, who served as Poland’s ambassador to Ukraine from 2019 to 2023, said he returned the Order of Merit, Second Class, through the Ukrainian Embassy in Warsaw.
In a statement sent to the Polish Press Agency (PAP), Cichocki said he had taken the step “in connection with decisions by the president of Ukraine honoring the UPA and a collaborator of the German Nazis”.
Last week, Zelensky granted one of Ukraine’s military units the honorary name “Heroes of the UPA”. The Ukrainian president said the designation was intended “to restore the historical traditions of the national military” and to recognize the unit’s performance in defending Ukraine’s territorial integrity and independence.
Cichocki was honored twice by Ukrainian authorities in 2022. In June of that year, Zelenskyy presented him with the Order of Merit, Second Class. In December, then-Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Gen. Valeriy Zaluzhnyi awarded him the Ukrainian Cross of Merit.
In his statement, Cichocki stressed that despite returning the decoration, “every Ukrainian fighting the invader, historical falsehood and corruption can count on my support”.
Zelensky’s decision to name the military unit after the UPA prompted criticism from Polish political leaders.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the move was “concerning from the point of view of our relations and violates our historical sensitivity”.
President Karol Nawrocki was more critical, saying Zelensky had shown that Ukraine, “in terms of mentality” and the “glorification of bandits and murderers from the Ukrainian Insurgent Army”, was not ready to become part of the European family. Nawrocki also said the Order of the White Eagle awarded to Zelensky in 2022 should be withdrawn.
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Source: PAP