Polish MEP: Ukraine is spitting in Poland’s face with its Bandera pantheon

Ewa Zajączkowska-Hernik. Photo: Fotorzepa, Jakub Czermiński

Polish MEP Ewa Zajączkowska-Hernik criticized further military aid to Ukraine amid plans to create a National Pantheon where, as Ukrainian officials have previously said, UPA leaders and other figures implicated in mass killings may be buried. The Polish politician wrote about this on her X account.

“More Patriot missiles for Zelensky just like that? Let’s stop being Ukraine’s suckers!” Zajączkowska-Hernik wrote.

According to her, Poland is providing Ukraine with expensive military equipment and repaying loans connected with support for Kyiv. At the same time, she said, the Ukrainian authorities are responding to that support with a policy of historical remembrance that she considers unacceptable.

“We hand them valuable equipment and pay off loans for them, while they spit in our faces with a Bandera pantheon of heroes. What is this supposed to be?!” she said.

Kolejne pociski do Patriotów dla Zełenskiego za nic❓ Przestańmy być frajerami Ukrainy❗

My rozdajemy im cenny sprzęt i spłacamy za nich pożyczki, a oni plują nam twarz banderowskim panteonem bohaterów, co to ma być?!

Z Ukrainą od początku powinniśmy prowadzić politykę… pic.twitter.com/OjpKhSMGS5

— Ewa Zajączkowska-Hernik (@EwaZajaczkowska) August 27, 2026

The Polish MEP has previously sharply criticized the commemoration of Ukrainian nationalists. In July, speaking in the European Parliament, she said that Volodymyr Zelensky had named a Ukrainian military unit after the “Heroes of the UPA” and that Ukraine was creating a state pantheon. After her speech, the politician demonstratively tore up the UPA’s red-and-black flag.

In August, Zajączkowska-Hernik separately commented on Zelensky’s signing of the law establishing Ukraine’s National Pantheon, where Stepan Bandera and Roman Shukhevych could potentially be commemorated. In response, she spoke out against supporting Ukraine’s accession to the EU.

As the UOJ reported, Poland’s deputy foreign minister warned Ukraine of problems over the pantheon law.

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