A noted historian says current quarrels over UPA commemoration play directly into Moscow’s hands, weakening regional solidarity and security. He urges leaders to prioritize the present war and cautious dialogue to prevent historical disputes from escalating geopolitical risks.
The dispute between Poland and Ukraine over awarding the Ukrainian unit the name “Heroes of the UPA” is viewed as advantageous to Russia. Such a position was voiced by American historian Timothy Snyder during an interview in which he analyzed the context of this controversy.
According to him, evaluating the decision of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky without taking into account the context of the current war with Russia is a fundamental mistake. He noted that for some Polish politicians the ‘war for memory’ is more advantageous than a real war, since it allows them to declaratively defend their position regardless of the real geopolitical dimension. Snyder also pointed out that in discussions of World War II crimes there is a missing element of what harms the Poles inflicted on Ukrainians in the first half of the 20th century.
“If we talk only about the horrific ethnic cleansings in Volhynia, the Polish discussion forgets that there were also Polish actions against Ukrainians. Poles in Volhynia also killed thousands of Ukrainians, but there were also pacifications of Ukrainian villages in Galicia in the 1930s, the resettlement of Ukrainians from Volhynia, the absolute absence of an official Polish response during the Great Famine, when Poles knew better than anyone what was happening in Ukraine. It would be good if, on occasion of criticisms aimed at Ukrainians in Polish comments, there were also some mentions of these facts”
– Timothy Snyder
At the same time the historian acknowledges that Kyiv has also made a misstep: Ukrainians often perceive the UPA through the prism of its second phase – the fight against the Soviet Army after 1945, forgetting the initial phase of its activity and Poland’s reaction to it. He also stressed that Ukraine should not link the current war with World War II or with the UPA.
“This is the wrong lesson for the Ukrainians themselves. It would be much better to focus on the current war and to regard this war as a source of Ukrainian symbols and memory”
– Timothy Snyder
The historian warns that using Ukraine’s difficult position as leverage in memory discussions is inappropriate: Poland’s geopolitical situation today depends more on Ukraine than on the United States or NATO, and the country should treat Ukrainians as partners – even if they make mistakes.
“Not supporting Ukraine means inviting the end of Polish sovereignty and independence”
– Timothy Snyder
According to the historian, emotionality in bilateral relations and an irrational approach to the current situation may play into Moscow’s hands. He also noted that if Russia were to win, Ukraine could worsen its position, while Poland could face new challenges, using Ukrainian resources for its own interests.
In Kyiv and Warsaw, the discussion about the event in Ukrainian-Polish relations remains a topic of conversation, with Ukraine emphasizing shared interests and the absence of an anti-Polish subtext in honoring the UPA heroes, while Poland expresses concerns about the emotional framing of Kyiv’s first step.
Reactions in Warsaw and Kyiv
On May 27, the President of Ukraine conferred the honorary designation “Heroes of the UPA” on a separate Center of Special Operations “North” of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This drew a negative reaction in Polish political circles. The Polish Foreign Ministry criticized the decision, and the head of government said Kyiv should assume responsibility for the crisis in relations with Warsaw and propose solutions that would satisfy Poland.
In response, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine noted that the history of both peoples has both glorious and tragic pages, but honoring the UPA heroes does not have an anti-Polish subtext.
The Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine recently visited Warsaw for meetings at the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland and at the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Poland regarding tensions between the countries in the field of history.
Such events underscore the need for careful dialogue that takes into account both political reality and the sensitivity of historical issues between the two peoples.
Conclusion
In the current Polish-Ukrainian discussion, it is important to balance historical memory with real interests. Mutual respect and shared values remain the foundation of stability and security in the region.