Ukraine calls for dialogue with Poland after a historic controversy over a military unit

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called on Wednesday for dialogue with Poland to defuse diplomatic tensions arising from a historical controversy related to a Ukrainian military unit.

The controversy arose following the decision of the Ukrainian president. Volodymyr Zelensky to rename a special forces unit in reference to the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), a nationalist organization active during World War II. While this formation is now mentioned in Ukraine in the context of the war against Russia, it remains extremely sensitive in Poland due to its role in the Volhynia massacres between 1943 and 1945.

Warsaw estimates that around 100,000 Poles were killed in these events, while thousands of Ukrainians also perished in reprisals, which continues to fuel deep divisions between the two countries.

Since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022, Poland has nonetheless been one of Ukraine's main supporters in military, logistical, and political terms. This strong alliance does not, however, prevent recurring tensions over historical and memorial issues, regularly reignited by symbolic decisions.

Polish officials expressed their outrage, and some elected representatives even raised the possibility of reviewing certain honorary distinctions awarded to Ukrainian officials. In response, Kyiv insisted on the need to maintain an open dialogue.

Andrii Sybiha stated that "the escalation of tensions benefits neither Ukrainians nor Poles," while reaffirming Ukraine's gratitude to Poland for its support in the war against Russia. He emphasized Kyiv's willingness to address "all issues, even the most difficult ones," in a spirit of cooperation.

This new episode illustrates the fragility of relations between two key allies in the face of still unresolved historical wounds, despite strengthened strategic cooperation since 2022.