"That's Where He Belongs": Sikorski Calls for Imprisoning Braun for Destroying a UPA Monument in Poland

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski publicly called for the leader of the far-right party "Confederation of the Polish Crown," Grzegorz Braun, to be held criminally liable and sent to prison. The trigger was the politician's action, in which he and an accomplice damaged a memorial to the soldiers of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) in the Lublin Voivodeship. In an interview, Sikorski stated that Braun "risks ending up in prison" and that "that's where he belongs," expressing hope for a swift court decision.

The Incident at the Memorial

According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, which reported on September 11, the pro-Russian Polish politician Grzegorz Braun, together with a colleague, destroyed a granite monument honoring UPA soldiers. The vandals used axes and hammers to smash the obelisk. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry called for the culprit to be held accountable. The incident provoked a sharp reaction in Warsaw, where Braun's act was condemned at the highest diplomatic level.

Warsaw's Reaction: "A Fascist, an Antisemite and a Criminal"

The head of Poland's diplomatic service did not hold back his emotions, calling Braun "a representative of the far-right wing of Polish politics" as well as "a fascist, an antisemite and a criminal." According to Sikorski, official charges have already been filed against the politician for a number of other offenses; in particular, he is accused of destroying a Jewish menorah in the Polish parliament and of denying the Holocaust. The diplomat emphasized that Braun is so "toxic" that no political force considers the possibility of a coalition with him.

Context: The UPA as a Point of Tension Between Warsaw and Kyiv

The destruction of the UPA monument occurred against the backdrop of fragile Polish-Ukrainian relations, in which the UPA question remains one of the most painful topics. Earlier, in public statements, Sikorski had articulated Warsaw's position in the spirit of "for us, the UPA is Volhynia," explaining how both capitals are trying to work their way out of the latest scandal. Thus, Braun's action and the reaction to it became not only a domestic Polish issue but also an interstate story touching on the historical memory of two countries.

Contradictory Data

The sources record a discrepancy in the chronology. The main storyline (Sikorski's statement and the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's report of September 11) dates to mid-September 2026 and is current as of the present date of September 17, 2026. At the same time, a number of additional materials on the UPA scandal and assessments of Sikorski's actions are dated June 28, 2026, which is reflected in the publication URLs. Moreover, in the original text the location of the incident is given as "the village of Białystok in the Lublin Voivodeship," whereas Białystok is a large city; the editorial team retains the source's wording without replacing it. These discrepancies in dates and geographic details require clarification, so some facts are presented with caveats.

In any case, the key fact — the Polish Foreign Minister's public call for the imprisonment of Grzegorz Braun for damaging the UPA memorial — is confirmed and recorded in the diplomat's interview. The further course of events will depend on the decisions of Polish law-enforcement and judicial authorities, as well as on how Warsaw and Kyiv manage the aftermath of the new historical scandal.