---
title: "\"No Concessions\": Ukraine's Ambassador to Poland Warns of Risks to Relations Over the National Pantheon"
description: "Ukraine's Ambassador to Poland, Vasyl Bondar, stated that adding new names to the National Pantheon requires taking Warsaw's reaction into account. Meanwhile, 180 attacks on Ukrainians in Poland were recorded in the first half of 2026."
date: 2026-09-25T08:26:01.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukraines-ambassador-to-poland-on-risks-to-relations-over-the-national-pantheon
tags: [ukraine-poland-relations, national-pantheon, vasyl-bondar, ukrainians-in-poland, historical-memory, diplomacy]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# "No Concessions": Ukraine's Ambassador to Poland Warns of Risks to Relations Over the National Pantheon

![Ambassador of Ukraine to Poland warns of risks to relations over the National Pantheon](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/25/posol-ukrainy-v-polshe-o-ryskah-dlya-otnosheniy-iz-za-natsionalnogo-panteona/posol-ukrainy-v-polshe-o-ryskah-dlya-otnosheniy-iz-za-natsionalnogo-panteona-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Ukraine's Ambassador to Poland, Vasyl Bondar, warned that new names in the National Pantheon could affect relations with Poland
- Bondar stressed that Ukraine will not yield its national interests, but called for taking the partner's sensitivity into account when planning reburials
- In the first half of 2026, 180 attacks on Ukrainians were recorded in Poland, a 30% increase compared to three years ago
- Poland remains an ally of Ukraine in matters of security and Eurointegration, but in history and economics each side defends its own interests

Vasyl Bondar, Ukraine's Ambassador to Poland, told RBC-Ukraine in an interview that adding new names to the National Pantheon could have a significant impact on bilateral relations with Warsaw. In his words, when planning the next stages of reburials, Kyiv must take into account the possible reaction of its neighboring state, since ignoring a partner's sensitivities leads to "unexpected results." Bondar emphasized that the National Pantheon is not only a celebration of the past but also a building of the future, which is why it is critically important how this initiative is implemented.

### National Interests and Lessons of the Past

At the same time, the ambassador categorically rejected the possibility of yielding Ukraine's national interests. As a vivid example, he cited the concessions that Russia had made over the decades, which, in his belief, ultimately led to a full-scale war. "Today, there is not a single politician in Ukraine ready to tell their neighbors: do whatever you want with this," Bondar stressed. Thus, the diplomat set a firm framework: sovereign decisions in the sphere of memory and national identity are not up for negotiation, but their implementation requires diplomatic precision.

### Where the Ally Is, and Where the Competitor

Bondar drew a line between the areas in which Poland can remain a reliable ally of Ukraine and the fields where each side will "firmly stand its ground." According to him, Warsaw is ready to support Kyiv on matters of security, defense, and Eurointegration. However, in the spheres of history, economic competition, and agriculture, as the ambassador noted, each side will firmly defend its own interests. "We must understand that before every decision we should weigh both our own interest and the sensitivity of the foreign partner," the diplomat summed up, effectively calling for a pragmatic balance between principle and tactical tact.

### Growing Aggression Against Ukrainians in Poland

Against the backdrop of the discussion of historical and political frictions, RBC-Ukraine cited alarming statistics: over three years, the number of attacks on Ukrainians in Poland has risen by 30%. In the first half of 2026, 180 such cases have already been recorded. Changes in Polish legislation have led to the fact that actions previously classified as hooliganism are now treated as hate crimes on national grounds. According to the outlet, this indicates a systematic tightening of law-enforcement practice toward ethnic Ukrainians on Polish territory.

### Contradictory Data

At the same time, the same materials feature the position of Ambassador Bondar himself, who had previously stated that generalized claims about the danger to Ukrainians in Poland are exaggerated. In his words, most citizens have not personally encountered physical aggression, and the widespread fear is largely a consequence of anxiety generated by media reports. Thus, the statistics on the growth in the number of incidents (180 cases in half a year, +30% over three years) and the ambassador's assessment of an "exaggerated danger" coexist in the same information space, creating a contradictory picture: the formally recorded rise in hate crimes coexists with the diplomatic assertion that the real level of threat to an ordinary Ukrainian remains low. The difference in interpretation may be explained by the fact that the ambassador operates on the subjective experience of the majority of citizens, whereas the statistics record the absolute number of incidents, including those that did not lead to serious consequences.

### Context: the Pantheon as a Diplomatic Tool

The discussion of the National Pantheon in Ukraine gains particular sharpness against the backdrop of ongoing disputes over the reburials of historical figures whose activities receive an ambiguous assessment in neighboring countries. Bondar's position demonstrates Kyiv's attempt to build a dual strategy: on the one hand, an unwavering right to its own historical memory; on the other, an awareness that every public decision in the sphere of national symbolism is transmitted abroad and may touch the sensitive nerves of partners. In a situation where Poland remains one of Ukraine's key allies in matters of security and Euro-Atlantic integration, the diplomatic balance between "principle" and "tact" becomes not just a rhetorical gesture but a practical necessity for preserving multivector cooperation.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [We Must Also Take Our Neighbors' Sensitivities Into Account: Ambassador to Poland on New Heroes in the Pantheon](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/treba-vrahovuvati-i-chutlivist-susidiv-posol-1790324544.html) - Основной источник: интервью Бондаря о пантеоне, отношениях с Польшей, уступках и чувствительности партнёра. Все прямые цитаты и тезисы подтверждены.
- [Over Several Years, the Number of Attacks on Ukrainians in Poland Has Grown by About 30% — Ambassador](https://zn.ua/europe/za-neskolko-let-chislo-napadenij-na-ukraintsev-v-polshe-vyroslo-primerno-na-30-posol.html) - Подтверждает статистику роста нападений на 30% за несколько лет. Совпадает с данными РБК-Украина.
- [Ambassador Explains Whether Ukrainians Face Danger in Poland](https://ua.news/ru/world/posol-poiasniv-chi-zagrozhuie-ukrayintsiam-nebezpeka-v-polshchi) - Подтверждает позицию Бондаря о преувеличенной опасности и роли медийных сообщений в формировании страха.
- [Aggression Against Ukrainians in Poland Is Growing: 180 Cases in Half a Year](https://korrespondent.net/world/4914769-ahressyia-protyv-ukrayntsev-v-polshe-rastet-180-sluchaev-za-polhoda) - Подтверждает цифру 180 случаев за первое полугодие 2026 и изменение квалификации деяний в польском законодательстве.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What did Ukraine's Ambassador to Poland say about the National Pantheon?
**A:** Vasyl Bondar stated that filling the pantheon with new names could affect relations with Poland. He called for taking Warsaw's reaction into account when planning reburials, but stressed that Ukraine cannot yield its national interests.

### Q: How many attacks on Ukrainians have been recorded in Poland in 2026?
**A:** In the first half of 2026, 180 cases of attacks on Ukrainians were recorded in Poland. Over three years, the number of such incidents has grown by 30%.

### Q: In which areas does Poland remain an ally of Ukraine?
**A:** According to Ambassador Bondar, Poland supports Ukraine in matters of security, defense, and Eurointegration. However, in the spheres of history, economic competition, and agriculture, each side firmly defends its own interests.

### Q: Does the attack statistics contradict the ambassador's statement about an exaggerated danger?
**A:** Bondar noted that most Ukrainians have not personally encountered physical aggression, and fear is formed primarily through media reports. The statistics, however, record the absolute number of incidents, including less serious ones. Both statements describe different aspects of the situation.