Ukraines ambassador joins Poland in Volyn massacre commemoration amid UPA naming dispute

Ukraine's Ambassador to Poland, Vasyl Bodnar, laid a wreath at a monument to the victims of the Volyn massacres in Warsaw on July 11, 2026, as the two nations grapple with historical tensions that have resurfaced in recent months.

The commemoration comes amid heightened tensions between Kyiv and Warsaw over the legacy of the Volyn massacres, which saw the mass killing of Poles by Ukrainian nationalists during World War II. Poland has officially designated these massacres as a "genocide committed by Ukrainian nationalists" against Poles.

The current controversy was sparked by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's decision on May 26 to name a military unit after the Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), which is seen in Poland as responsible for the Volyn massacres. The UPA waged a protracted struggle for Ukraine's independence against the Soviets during and after World War II, making them a potent symbol for the fight against Russian oppression among contemporary Ukrainians. However, the UPA's legacy is tarnished by the role some members played in perpetrating pogroms against Jewish and Polish civilians.

Polish President Karol Nawrocki and Prime Minister Donald Tusk have made strong statements about the need to remember the victims and have criticized the glorification of the UPA. Nawrocki even called for a legislative ban on the UPA flag in Poland.

In response, the Ukrainian embassy in Poland emphasized the importance of honoring the memory of the victims and establishing the full historical truth through dialogue among historians. "It is our shared duty to honor the memory of each victim with dignity," the embassy said in a social media post on July 11. "Ukraine advocates for establishing the full historical truth, continuing search and exhumation efforts, and fostering professional dialogue among historians."

Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz also spoke on the occasion, emphasizing the importance of commemoration, truth, and healing. "I am here not to reopen the wound in any way, but to let it heal," he said, as reported by Polish media outlet RMF24. "But for it to heal, it must be addressed; only then can it begin to heal."

The Volyn massacres have long been a point of contention in Polish-Ukrainian relations, but the current dispute highlights how historical grievances can inflame modern political tensions. As both nations navigate this complex history, the focus remains on honoring the victims and fostering a dialogue that can lead to reconciliation.

The commemoration events in Poland included a visit by Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz to the village of Olyka in the Volyn region of Ukraine, where he attended a church service in memory of the Poles who died during World War II. Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasized the importance of truth, honoring memory, and forgiveness in building a better future for both nations.

Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the creation of a new monument in Warsaw to civilian victims of what he called a "genocide" by "Ukrainian nationalists" during World War II. The monument is intended to honor the memory of the victims and serve as a reminder of the tragic events.

The Ukrainian Institute of National Memory has also been involved in the commemoration efforts. Head of the institute, Oleksandr Alfyorov, joined a ceremony in Olyka and emphasized the need for the memory of the Volyn tragedy to be free of political manipulation.

The diplomatic dispute has also involved the European Union, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos condemning genocide denial and the glorification of war criminals ahead of the Srebrenica anniversary. This context adds another layer to the discussions about historical memory and reconciliation in Europe.

As the commemoration events continue, both Ukraine and Poland have expressed their commitment to addressing the historical truth and fostering dialogue. However, the underlying tensions highlight the challenges in reconciling different historical narratives and the impact these narratives have on contemporary political relations.

In a speech to mark the anniversary, Poland’s president, Karol Nawrocki, condemned the “evil ideology” of Ukrainian nationalism but emphasized he is “not condemning the entire Ukrainian nation”. Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced plans for a Wall of Remembrance in Warsaw that will include the names of victims. Meanwhile, the main opposition party, the national-conservative Law and Justice (PiS), announced that it is submitting a proposed resolution to parliament declaring that Poland will oppose Ukraine’s accession to the European Union as long as Kyiv continues to “glorify criminals”.

The Volyn massacres, also known as the Volyn tragedy, refer to a series of events that led to the ethnic cleansing of the Polish and Ukrainian populations in 1943 during World War II. It was part of a long-standing rivalry between Ukrainians and Poles in what is now Ukraine's west. Poland considers the Volyn tragedy a genocide of Poles.

The current dispute began when President Volodymyr Zelensky on May 26 named a military unit after the Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). The UPA waged a protracted struggle for Ukraine's independence against the Soviets during and after World War II, making them a potent symbol for the fight against Russian oppression among contemporary Ukrainians. But the UPA's legacy as freedom fighters is tarnished by the role some members played in perpetrating pogroms against Jewish and Polish civilians in what is now western Ukraine, but was then under Nazi occupation.

In Poland, the UPA are seen chiefly as the perpetrators of the Volyn massacres, mass killings of tens of thousands of Poles between 1943-1945. Since 2016, Poland has officially designated the massacres as a "genocide committed by Ukrainian nationalists" against Poles.

The ceremony in Warsaw was also attended by Ukrainian officials, including First Deputy Minister of Culture of Ukraine Ivan Verbytskyi and Head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory Oleksandr Alfyorov. Kosiniak-Kamysz said that those gathered in Olyka came together to remember the victims of the tragedy and to do everything possible to ensure that such events never happen again in relations between the Polish and Ukrainian peoples.

"Friendship is moving forward together despite the experiences of the past, and perhaps precisely because of these experiences – building a better future," he said. Kosiniak-Kamysz warned against falling into a "deadly spiral of hatred," stressing that this can only be avoided through dignified remembrance of the victims.

Earlier, Ukrinform reported that Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk emphasized that historical memory should not become a source of new hostility. The Polish minister also noted that friendship between nations means being able to tell each other the truth, even when it is painful.

The commemoration events in Poland included a visit by Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz to the village of Olyka in the Volyn region of Ukraine, where he attended a church service in memory of the Poles who died during World War II. Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasized the importance of truth, honoring memory, and forgiveness in building a better future for both nations.

Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the creation of a new monument in Warsaw to civilian victims of what he called a "genocide" by "Ukrainian nationalists" during World War II. The monument is intended to honor the memory of the victims and serve as a reminder of the tragic events.

The Ukrainian Institute of National Memory has also been involved in the commemoration efforts. Head of the institute, Oleksandr Alfyorov, joined a ceremony in Olyka and emphasized the need for the memory of the Volyn tragedy to be free of political manipulation.

The diplomatic dispute has also involved the European Union, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos condemning genocide denial and the glorification of war criminals ahead of the Srebrenica anniversary. This context adds another layer to the discussions about historical memory and reconciliation in Europe.

As the commemoration events continue, both Ukraine and Poland have expressed their commitment to addressing the historical truth and fostering dialogue. However, the underlying tensions highlight the challenges in reconciling different historical narratives and the impact these narratives have on contemporary political relations.

In a speech to mark the anniversary, Poland’s president, Karol Nawrocki, condemned the “evil ideology” of Ukrainian nationalism but emphasized he is “not condemning the entire Ukrainian nation”. Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced plans for a Wall of Remembrance in Warsaw that will include the names of victims. Meanwhile, the main opposition party, the national-conservative Law and Justice (PiS), announced that it is submitting a proposed resolution to parliament declaring that Poland will oppose Ukraine’s accession to the European Union as long as Kyiv continues to “glorify criminals”.

The Volyn massacres, also known as the Volyn tragedy, refer to a series of events that led to the ethnic cleansing of the Polish and Ukrainian populations in 1943 during World War II. It was part of a long-standing rivalry between Ukrainians and Poles in what is now Ukraine's west. Poland considers the Volyn tragedy a genocide of Poles.

The current dispute began when President Volodymyr Zelensky on May 26 named a military unit after the Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). The UPA waged a protracted struggle for Ukraine's independence against the Soviets during and after World War II, making them a potent symbol for the fight against Russian oppression among contemporary Ukrainians. But the UPA's legacy as freedom fighters is tarnished by the role some members played in perpetrating pogroms against Jewish and Polish civilians in what is now western Ukraine, but was then under Nazi occupation.

In Poland, the UPA are seen chiefly as the perpetrators of the Volyn massacres, mass killings of tens of thousands of Poles between 1943-1945. Since 2016, Poland has officially designated the massacres as a "genocide committed by Ukrainian nationalists" against Poles.

The ceremony in Warsaw was also attended by Ukrainian officials, including First Deputy Minister of Culture of Ukraine Ivan Verbytskyi and Head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory Oleksandr Alfyorov. Kosiniak-Kamysz said that those gathered in Olyka came together to remember the victims of the tragedy and to do everything possible to ensure that such events never happen again in relations between the Polish and Ukrainian peoples.

"Friendship is moving forward together despite the experiences of the past, and perhaps precisely because of these experiences – building a better future," he said. Kosiniak-Kamysz warned against falling into a "deadly spiral of hatred," stressing that this can only be avoided through dignified remembrance of the victims.

Earlier, Ukrinform reported that Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk emphasized that historical memory should not become a source of new hostility. The Polish minister also noted that friendship between nations means being able to tell each other the truth, even when it is painful.

The commemoration events in Poland included a visit by Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz to the village of Olyka in the Volyn region of Ukraine, where he attended a church service in memory of the Poles who died during World War II. Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasized the importance of truth, honoring memory, and forgiveness in building a better future for both nations.

Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the creation of a new monument in Warsaw to civilian victims of what he called a "genocide" by "Ukrainian nationalists" during World War II. The monument is intended to honor the memory of the victims and serve as a reminder of the tragic events.

The Ukrainian Institute of National Memory has also been involved in the commemoration efforts. Head of the institute, Oleksandr Alfyorov, joined a ceremony in Olyka and emphasized the need for the memory of the Volyn tragedy to be free of political manipulation.

The diplomatic dispute has also involved the European Union, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos condemning genocide denial and the glorification of war criminals ahead of the Srebrenica anniversary. This context adds another layer to the discussions about historical memory and reconciliation in Europe.

As the commemoration events continue, both Ukraine and Poland have expressed their commitment to addressing the historical truth and fostering dialogue. However, the underlying tensions highlight the challenges in reconciling different historical narratives and the impact these narratives have on contemporary political relations.