At a ceremony in the Museum of the Formation of the Ukrainian Nation on Thursday, several Polish members of the legion received the Polish-Ukrainian Brotherhood-in-Arms award, news outlets reported.
Among them was Konrad Wrona, who urged his compatriots to set aside historical grievances and stand with Kyiv.
'This war can reach far outside Ukraine'
“Every Pole needs to wake up – this war can reach far outside Ukraine,” Wrona told reporters after receiving his medal.
“Ukrainians and Poles must stop looking backwards," he added. "We are writing a new chapter together.”
Wrona, who left Poland in May 2022, soon after Russia’s full-scale invasion, said the decision was a personal turning point made during “a restless period” in his life.
“When I saw what was really happening here, my whole life changed,” he said, adding that his family now supports his choice after initial shock.
The 30-year-old soldier described retrieving fallen comrades as the hardest part of the war, but said bonds in the multinational unit are strong, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
“Help is real and comes from every direction – whoever can, supports,” he said.
'Victory will come only when we unite'
Wrona believes many foreign volunteers will remain in Ukraine after the conflict to help rebuild.
“New generations will need space and support," he said. "The most important thing will be fixing what has been destroyed."
Asked what victory would look like, he replied: "Victory will come only when we unite, work together and become, in spirit, one nation."
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, starting the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II.
Friday is day 1,185 of Russia's war on Ukraine.
(jh/gs)
Source: PAP