Poland сondemns Lviv Regional Council's decision to declare 2007 year of UPA

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Photo: Getty Images

Poland is demanding an official response from Kyiv to the Lviv Regional Council's decision to declare 2027 the Year of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) and its commander Roman Shukhevych. RBC-Ukraine reported this, citing statements by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.

The resolution also calls for commemorating Oleh Olzhych, a member of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN). Tusk said the decision runs counter to Ukraine's interests and could complicate cooperation with international partners. "It's stupid, it's harmful to Ukraine," he told RMF24.

The Polish prime minister said he had previously discussed the issue with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and warned of potential difficulties for those supporting Kyiv. According to Tusk, such decisions give opponents of Ukraine's accession to the European Union additional arguments. He described the policy as a "suicidal tactic."

Tusk recalled that Warsaw and Kyiv had made considerable efforts to repair relations following an earlier dispute involving an award. In his view, the Lviv Regional Council's decision could undo that progress.

Polish Defense Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz called the resolution unacceptable in a post on X. He argued that it does not strengthen trust between Ukrainians and Poles but instead deepens divisions. "The Ukrainian authorities should distance themselves from this position," the minister wrote.

Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Bosacki told TVN24 that Warsaw had received assurances from Zelensky's closest associates that the decision would not take effect.

As the UOJ previously reported, Poland banned a Lviv official from entering the country over the promotion of the SS Galicia Division and the UPA.

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