Ukrainian Domestic — 2026-05-30

Polish President Nawrocki Asks Order Chapter to Revoke Zelensky Highest State Honor Over UPA Brigade Naming

BLUFWarsaw's honor-revocation process will likely advance past the June 8 Chapter meeting, converting a bilateral historical dispute into a persistent Russian information weapon against NATO's eastern flank cohesion.

Polish President Nawrocki said on Friday he has proposed the June 8 meeting of the Order of the White Eagle Chapter consider revoking Zelensky's 2023 decoration, following Zelensky's May 27 decree designating an elite Special Operations Forces unit as "Heroes of the UPA" 123. PAP quoted Nawrocki saying the final decision rests with him as president but the Chapter must first convene, and that Zelensky had "provided Russian propaganda with excellent material," while affirming continued Polish support for Ukraine 2. Poland's Foreign Ministry lodged a formal diplomatic protest and summoned Ukrainian Ambassador Bodnar on May 28; Poland's chargé in Kyiv met Ukraine's deputy foreign minister on May 29 4. PM Tusk urged restraint from both sides while FM Sikorski warned "only Putin will gain from a Polish-Ukrainian row over history" 4.

Analysis
Nawrocki's public proposal to place Zelensky's decoration on the June 8 Chapter agenda makes a formal revocation recommendation likely at or shortly following the meeting. Moderate confidence rests on his unambiguous agenda-setting move and the absence of countervailing signals from Chapter members, though PAP carries the sole primary account with all other coverage secondary pickup. The Warsaw split is already visible: Tusk and Sikorski warn only Moscow profits, while Nawrocki responds to right-wing pressure rooted in genuine historical grievance. This may instead be theater designed to establish nationalist credentials without completing a revocation Tusk would block at countersignature. Should the Chapter recommend revocation, Tusk faces a formal request requiring either public refusal that exposes Warsaw's coalition fracture or acquiescence that makes Poland the author of a symbolic rupture with Kyiv during active Russian aggression.
4 sources
  1. Nawrocki Wants Zelensky Stripped of Poland's Highest Honor - Kyiv Post
  2. Nawrocki seeks to strip Zelensky of Poland's highest honour over UPA dispute - Polish Press Agency (PAP)
  3. Polish president wants to strip Zelenskyy of order after he named Special Operations Forces unit after Heroes of Ukrainian Insurgent Army - Ukrainska Pravda
  4. Polish President Nawrocki seeks to strip Zelenskyy of Poland's highest honour - Euronews

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