Ukraine's Ambassador to Poland, Vasyl Bodnar, has urged taking seriously the rhetoric of Polish politicians regarding Stepan Bandera and Ukraine's integration into the European Union. According to him, such statements are not the opinion of marginal groups, but reflect a deeply rooted public consensus in Polish society.
Historical disputes and public stance
In an interview with RBC-Ukraine, the diplomat stressed that an unequivocally negative perception of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), Stepan Bandera, and Roman Shukhevych has formed in Poland. This issue should not be taken lightly, as the shared stance encompasses various political forces, public movements, and the vast majority of citizens who view the events of World War II through the prism of their own historical memory.
Contradictory data
There are noticeable discrepancies in assessing the scale of the tragedy and losses on both sides. In the Polish public sphere and official historiography, the most widespread estimate is 100,000 dead Poles as a result of the Volyn tragedy. Meanwhile, Ukrainian historian Igor Halagida estimated the number of casualties on the Ukrainian side at approximately 30,000. Both sides focus on the suffering of their own civilian populations, requiring further open dialogue and access to archives.
Ways forward and condemnation of crimes
Vasyl Bodnar noted the need for comprehensive work by historians and politicians, which should be based on mutual respect and the absence of confrontation. The ambassador stressed that any crimes against the civilian population are war crimes and have no justification, regardless of the nationality of their victims and perpetrators. Ukraine intends to continue presenting its own archival research, including highlighting punitive actions and operations against Ukrainians that remain poorly known in Poland.
