EU and Ukrainian Flags Removed and Discarded by Kraków Mayoral Candidate

Controversy Surrounds Marianna Schreiber's Campaign Video

According to Главком: A political firestorm has erupted around Marianna Schreiber, a candidate running for mayor of Kraków, Poland, after she released a campaign video in which she is seen taking down and throwing away flags of both Ukraine and the European Union. The footage, published on June 13, 2026, shows Schreiber removing the flags from a bracket outside a government building and tossing them to the ground, sparking widespread public outrage.

Schreiber is a well-known political figure who advocates for a return to traditional Polish values and customs. Her key policy proposals include:

• displaying only Polish flags on municipal buildings;
• reintroducing Christian symbols into schools;
• and championing conservative values.

In the video, she states:

“Polishness is normalcy. If you want to restore it, support me in the election.”

Rising Tensions in Polish-Ukrainian Relations

Relations between Ukraine and Poland took a sharp downturn in late May 2026, when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy decided to honor a Special Operations Forces unit with the name of the Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). This move drew strong criticism from Warsaw due to the historical controversy surrounding the UPA and the Volyn tragedy of 1943–1945. Schreiber also used her video to declare:

“No more subservience to Brussels or foreign propaganda. Kraków will be Polish.”

The scandal surrounding Schreiber's video marks another flashpoint in the already strained relationship between Poland and Ukraine, a topic that continues to fuel heated debates in both nations.

This incident highlights the growing friction in Polish-Ukrainian ties, which has been exacerbated by historical disputes and politically charged initiatives that provoke mixed reactions. The upcoming mayoral election in Kraków may prove to be a pivotal moment for Poland's political landscape, as issues of national identity and attitudes toward neighboring countries become increasingly prominent. The public's response to Schreiber's actions suggests that political campaigns in Poland are growing more emotional and divisive.