The diplomatic conflict between Poland and Ukraine, which began due to historical disagreements, has entered a new phase. Former Polish Minister of Defence Mariusz Błaszczak announced the return of the Order of Merit of the First Class, which he received from Ukrainian authorities in 2022.
In his statement on social media, the politician explained his step as a gesture of solidarity with families who have been waiting for decades for the opportunity to honor the memory of their loved ones with dignity. In the context of current events, this obviously refers to the victims of the Volhynian tragedy. Błaszczak emphasized that returning the award is a direct expression of disagreement with the position of the current leadership of Ukraine and support for the course of the President of Poland.
Chain reaction in the Polish elite
Błaszczak's decision was the second in recent days within the highest echelons of Polish power. The day before, former Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński took a similar step, refusing the Ukrainian Order of Yaroslav the Wise. Kaczyński explained that his actions were not directed against the Ukrainian people, but against "Ukrainian elites," and also called for support of the head of state's position.
These events were a response to the actions of the President of Poland, who deprived Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle — the oldest and most significant state award of the country. The reason for such a sharp step was the decision of the Ukrainian leader to name one of the units of the Special Operations Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces "Heroes of the UPA".
Kyiv's response: mass refusal of awards
The reaction from the Ukrainian side was not long in coming. In response to Zelenskyy being stripped of the award, the Head of the President's Office Kyrylo Budanov and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybyga refused Polish awards. Moreover, former Presidents of Ukraine joined the action: Petro Poroshenko, Viktor Yushchenko, and Leonid Kuchma returned their Orders of the White Eagle.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy sent his order back to Warsaw via the "Nova Poshta" delivery service. Thus, the diplomatic dispute, which began with the issue of naming a military unit, escalated into a large-scale exchange of awards, symbolizing a deep crisis in bilateral relations.