Poland Urges Ukraine to Apologize for Volhynian Massacre
Moscow24 Aug Vesti. Kyiv must ask Warsaw's forgiveness for the crimes of Ukrainian nationalists during the Second World War, just as Germany did, said Deputy Foreign Minister of Poland Ignacy Nemicz in a broadcast on Polish television.
Consensus
- Poland's deputy foreign minister, Ignacy Nemczycski, proposed a 'forgive and ask for forgiveness' formula to resolve historical disputes with Ukraine.
- The Volhynian massacre, involving attacks by Ukrainian nationalists on Polish civilians in 1943–1945, is a central point of contention.
- Poland recognizes the events as genocide of the Polish population.
- Ukraine's honoring of UPA leaders and naming a military unit after them triggered diplomatic backlash from Poland.
- Poland revoked President Zelensky's Order of the White Eagle in response.
- Zelensky returned the order by mail, and several Ukrainian officials also renounced Polish honors.
- Poland has called for Ukraine to meet conditions, including rejecting Banderist ideology, before joining the EU.
- The issue has led to increased tensions and a rise in crimes against Ukrainians in Poland.
Points of divergence
- Nemczycski proposed establishing a joint Polish-Ukrainian historical commission to address broader issues including the Treaty of Riga, territorial disputes, and trials of Ukrainian soldiers in Polish camps. — kommersant
- Poland's President Karol Nawrocki stated he would ensure the UPA flag does not appear in Poland and expressed hope for a law banning it, linking the flag to Nazi Germany's 'blood and soil' ideology. — vedomosti
- The worsening of relations occurred in 2026, following Zelensky's participation in the reburial of an OUN-UPA leader and the naming of a Ukrainian military unit after UPA heroes. — vedomosti
- In 2025, Poland declared July 11 as a national memorial day for the Volhynian massacre. — vedomosti
- The number of crimes committed against Ukrainians in Poland increased by one-third, according to the Polish interior ministry. — vesti
Coverage (6 sources)
- Poland offered Ukraine a formula of 'forgive and ask for forgiveness' — Коммерсантъ
- Polish Foreign Ministry calls on Kyiv to apologize for the Volhynian massacre — Ведомости
- Deputy head of Polish Foreign Ministry says Ukraine should ask Poles for forgiveness — Вести
- Polish Foreign Ministry: "Pantheon" with Bandera and Shukhevych will hit Ukraine's relations with the EU — Вести
- In Poland called to sever ties with Ukrainian Ivano-Frankivsk — Ведомости
- Polish city threatened to drop status of brotherhood with Ivano-Frankivsk — Вести
Key entities
- Poland
- Ukraine
- MID
- Ivano-Frankivsk
- Ignatius Nemchitsky
- Moscow
- Kyiv
- Warsaw
- Germany
- Russia
- EU
- TVP Info
- Koshalino
- Tomas Sobera
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy