Vasyl Zvarych Turns Down Polish State Decoration
Vasyl Zvarych, Ukraine’s ambassador to the Czech Republic and a former envoy to Poland, has declined a major Polish state award—the Commander’s Cross with Star of the Order of Merit. The decision came in response to a move by Polish President Karol Nawrocki, who reacted to a decree from Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy granting an honorary name to a Ukrainian Armed Forces unit in tribute to the Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). The decoration had been presented to Zvarych in July, during the tenure of then-President Andrzej Duda.
Fallout Over the Order of the White Eagle
On June 19, 2024, Polish President Karol Nawrocki decided to strip Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle. In response, the very next day, Zelenskyy mailed the medal back to Nawrocki. Notably, former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma also refused the same Polish honor, while Viktor Yushchenko and Petro Poroshenko—Ukraine’s third and fifth presidents, respectively—have expressed a desire to decline it as well.
Commenting on the situation, Vasyl Zvarych said that Nawrocki’s reaction effectively undermines years of painstaking work aimed at Ukrainian-Polish reconciliation and mutual understanding.
“This is especially regrettable because the reconciliation process was not started by politicians, but by people who directly lived through the most tragic chapters of our shared history,” he noted.
Zvarych also stressed that Ukrainians do not deny crimes committed by members of the Ukrainian underground against Polish civilians.
“We pay due respect to innocent Polish victims and, even amid Russia’s ongoing war, have opened the way for exhumations and dignified burials. But at the same time, we cannot ignore crimes committed against Ukrainians by Polish military and underground units—in Sahryń, Pawłokoma, Piskorowice, and many other places,” he said.
Zvarych further emphasized the importance of people-to-people reconciliation, stating:
“If veterans of the UPA and the Home Army, after everything they endured, found the courage to extend a hand to one another, today’s politicians should have the wisdom not to destroy what was built with such difficulty.”These words reflect a desire for understanding and constructive dialogue between Ukraine and Poland amid lingering historical tensions.
Zvarych’s refusal of the Polish award underscores the strained relations between Ukraine and Poland, particularly over historical disputes tied to past conflicts. The reactions from both sides highlight the complexity of Ukrainian-Polish reconciliation, which demands a sensitive approach to shared history and memory. Against this backdrop, continued dialogue and mutual understanding remain critical for the stability of bilateral ties going forward.
The ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Poland highlight a broader historical context that has led to significant diplomatic disputes. For a deeper understanding of the events that have unfolded, including the recent decision to strip President Zelenskyy of a prestigious honor, you can read more about the controversy surrounding the Order of the White Eagle.