--- title: "Lublin Voivodeship Terminates 22-Year Cooperation with Lviv Region Over 'UPA Year'" description: "The Lublin Voivodeship Sejmik has unanimously terminated a cooperation agreement with the Lviv region that had been active since 2004. The decision was made in response to the Lviv Regional Council's declaration of 2027 as the 'UPA Year.'" date: 2026-10-26T22:48:17.961Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/lublin-voivodeship-terminates-cooperation-lviv-region tags: [poland, ukraine, lviv, lublin, upa, volhynia, regional-cooperation] author: "Alexander Buran" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Lublin Voivodeship Terminates 22-Year Cooperation with Lviv Region Over 'UPA Year' ![Polish and Ukrainian flags against a historic building regarding the breakdown in cooperation](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/26/lyublinskoe-voevodstvo-razorvalo-sotrudnichestvo-so-lvovshchynoy/lyublinskoe-voevodstvo-razorvalo-sotrudnichestvo-so-lvovshchynoy-1.webp) ## Key Points - The Lublin Voivodeship Sejmik unanimously (30 votes in favor, 3 absent) terminated the cooperation agreement with the Lviv region, active since 2004. - The stated reason is the Lviv Regional Council's decision of October 20 to proclaim 2027 the 'Year of the UPA, Roman Shukhevych, and Oleh Olzhych.' - Marshal Jarosław Stawiarski called the 1943–1944 events in Volhynia a genocide; Lviv was given until October 26 to repeal the decision. - Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced preparations to declare initiator Svyatoslav Sheremeta persona non grata; the Ukrainian President's Office assured the decision will not take effect. The Sejmik of the Lublin Voivodeship in Poland has unanimously terminated the cooperation agreement with the Lviv Oblast of Ukraine, which had been in effect since 2004. All 30 deputies present at the session voted in favor of the termination, while three were absent. The decision was made as a direct response to a resolution by the Lviv Regional Council dated October 20, which proclaimed 2027 as the 'Year of the UPA, Roman Shukhevych, and Oleh Olzhych.' This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing Polskie Radio Lublin. ### Unanimous Decision by the Sejmik The terminated agreement, which had been in force for over two decades, provided for cooperation between the two regions in the fields of economy, trade, science, education, and culture. Thus, the Lublin Voivodeship has effectively dismantled the institutional channel of cooperation with the Lviv region that had functioned since 2004. The vote passed without a single opposing vote among those present, underlining the regional parliament's consolidated position on the matter. ### Reaction to the 'UPA Year' and the Volhynia Issue Voivodeship Marshal Jarosław Stawiarski explained the decision by stating that the Lviv Regional Council 'has not renounced the commemoration of people who killed Poles,' and therefore cooperation is being terminated immediately. According to him, swift action is necessary so that 'neighbors whom we have helped and are helping will come to their senses.' Stawiarski described the events of 1943–1944 in Volhynia as a brutal genocide for which, he claimed, no one has apologized. Deputy Sejmik Chairman Krzysztof Gałaszkiewicz from the Law and Justice party specified that Lviv was given until Monday, October 26, to annul the decision, but this did not happen. ### Party Positions and Future Prospects of Relations At the same time, more restrained assessments were voiced within the sejmik. Zofia Woźnica, head of the Civic Coalition faction, reminded that Poles welcomed millions of Ukrainian mothers with children after the start of the war, noting that if Lviv revokes its decision, cooperation could be reconsidered, as the region enjoys good relations with western Ukraine. Marek Kos, leader of the Polish People's Party faction, also expressed the view that relations between neighbors 'will somehow work out,' but Poland cannot agree to the commemoration of the UPA. Thus, the termination of the agreement was presented as a gesture that leaves open the possibility of restoring dialogue if the disputed resolution is cancelled. ### Response in Warsaw and Kyiv The Lviv Regional Council's resolution provoked a sharp reaction in Poland: Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that it irritates Poles and harms Ukraine's interests, and Poland is preparing to declare the initiator, Svyatoslav Sheremeta, persona non grata. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry called the regional council's decision counterproductive. At the same time, Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Bosacki reported that the Office of the President of Ukraine assured Warsaw that the decision will not enter into force. Concurrently, the Polish Ministry of Defense denied information about suspending the transfer of a weapons package to Ukraine due to this scandal. ## Accounts differ ### Status of the Lviv Regional Council's 'UPA Year' Decision - **Lviv Regional Council:** The decision was not repealed within the deadline set by the Lublin Sejmik until October 26 ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/lyublinske-voevodstvo-rozirvalo-spivpratsyu-1793054704.html)) - **Office of the President of Ukraine:** The regional council's decision will not enter into force ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/lyublinske-voevodstvo-rozirvalo-spivpratsyu-1793054704.html)) *Where they agree:* The decision to proclaim 2027 the 'Year of the UPA, Roman Shukhevych, and Oleh Olzhych' was adopted by the Lviv Regional Council on October 20 ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Люблинское воеводство разорвало сотрудничество со Львовщиной через год УПА](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/lyublinske-voevodstvo-rozirvalo-spivpratsyu-1793054704.html) - Primary source: voting results (30 for, 3 absent), agreement active since 2004, quotes from Marshal Stawiarski, Gałaszkiewicz, Woźnica, Kos; reactions from Tusk, Ukrainian MFA, President's Office, and Polish MOD. Deadline for repeal was October 26. ## FAQ ### Why did the Lublin Voivodeship terminate cooperation with the Lviv region? The Lublin Sejmik reacted to the Lviv Regional Council's decision of October 20 to declare 2027 the 'Year of the UPA, Roman Shukhevych, and Oleh Olzhych.' Marshal Jarosław Stawiarski stated that Lviv has not abandoned honoring individuals who, in his words, killed Poles. ### How many years was the cooperation agreement in effect? The agreement had been in effect since 2004, providing for cooperation in economy, trade, science, education, and culture. All 30 present deputies voted for its termination, with three absent. ### What is the status of the Lviv Regional Council's decision? Lviv Regional Council was given until October 26 to repeal the decision, but it was not repealed. However, according to Polish Deputy FM Marcin Bosacki, the Ukrainian President's Office assured Warsaw that the decision will not enter into force.