Shevchuk claims Sejm's decision on genocide of Poles is Kremlin propaganda

Sviatoslav Shevchuk. Photo: TSN

On June 27, 2025, a delegation of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (AUCCRO) led by Sviatoslav Shevchuk attended a prayer breakfast in the Polish Sejm, as reported by the press service of the UGCC.

In his speech, Shevchuk assured that the AUCCRO "is not part of the state apparatus, but represents the voice of civil society."

According to the head of the UGCC, members of the AUCCRO (which currently does not include the largest denomination in the country, the UOC) allegedly represent the interests of 75% of Ukrainian society.

Commenting on Ukrainian-Polish relations, Shevchuk informed those present that "today Russia is fighting not only with missiles and tanks but is also systematically trying to destroy the spiritual foundations of Europe laid by Saint Pope John Paul II." "When someone wants to once again sow discord between Poles and Ukrainians, to disturb our wounds – this is the goal and manifestation of Moscow's propaganda," Shevchuk assured, possibly referring to the recently adopted Day of Remembrance for the victims of the genocide by the OUN and UPA.

"And today we want to say to you again, dear brothers: we forgive and ask for forgiveness," Shevchuk told the Poles.

He mentioned the 4 million internally displaced persons and millions of Ukrainian refugees living in Poland and assured that AUCCRO members care for them.

"We are their shepherds. It hurts us when someone truly tries to hit the image of Ukrainians in Poland," he said.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Polish Sejm announced the establishment of a National Day of Remembrance for Poles who became victims of the genocide committed by the OUN and UPA. It will be observed on July 11.

The statement said that in 1939–1946, Ukrainian nationalists from the OUN and UPA, operating "in the lands of the Eastern Borderlands of the Second Polish Republic," "committed genocide crimes against the Polish population". The document states that the nationalists killed over 100,000 Poles. The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to the Sejm's decision with sharp criticism. The statement called the genocide "so-called" and the document itself "contrary to the spirit of good neighborly relations between Ukraine and Poland".

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