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A new study shows that, while most Poles were angered by President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent decision to name a military unit after a group that massacred Poles in World War Two, they still overwhelmingly support cooperation with Ukraine and believe that Russia benefits from the dispute. The study, carried out by Polish state research agency CBOS, also finds that a large majority of Poles believe good relations with Ukraine will only be possible once historical issues are resolved. The polling was carried out this month in response to the ongoing diplomatic crisis that began in May, when Zelensky named a military unit after the “heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA)”.
The UPA is widely revered in Ukraine for its role in fighting against Moscow-backed Soviet rule. However, in Poland it is associated with the Volhynia massacres, in which around 100,000 Polish civilians – mostly women and children – were slaughtered during World War Two, often with great brutality. Zelensky’s decision sparked anger in Poland, where the massacres are regarded as a genocide (though Ukraine strongly rejects that label).
In June, Polish President Karol Nawrocki stripped Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle, Poland’s highest honour, which he had received in 2023. However, they were divided over the consequences, with 41% saying it would bring Poland more losses than benefits and the exact same proportion saying the benefits would outweigh the costs. More broadly, 84% said the Polish state should react when another country glorifies historical figures responsible for crimes against Poles.
However, when asked if Ukrainians have the right to honour their own historical heroes, even if those figures left a negative mark on Polish history, 44% agreed and 42% disagreed. At the same time, over three quarters of respondents (77%) said that good Polish-Ukrainian relations could not be built without addressing the past, bu…
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