Former Ukrainian ambassador to Poland renounces Polish award in protest

Vasyl Zvarych, former Ukrainian ambassador to Poland, has announced his decision to renounce the Polish Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Merit.

Source: Zvarych on Facebook, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Zvarych recalled that in July 2024, while serving as Ukraine's ambassador, he received a high state award – the Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Merit – from Andrzej Duda, then president of Poland.

Quote: "I am sincerely grateful to my Polish friends for this recognition. I will always value and remember what we went through together. Thank you for your trust, our unique cooperation and genuine friendship. And I am sure you will understand my action today.

Loyalty to the interests of the Ukrainian state, the honour and dignity of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, my fellow diplomats and the free and unbroken Ukrainian people, as well as a deep sense of justice, oblige me to renounce this state honour of the Republic of Poland."

More details: Zvarych described Polish President Karol Nawrocki's reaction to Zelenskyy's decision to name a Ukrainian military unit after the Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army as, at the very least, disproportionate and irresponsible.

"Karol Nawrocki has effectively cast doubt on decades of painstaking work aimed at Ukrainian-Polish reconciliation and mutual understanding. And this is especially regrettable, since reconciliation was not initiated by politicians, but by people who directly lived through the most tragic pages of our shared history," Zvarych wrote.

He stressed that no one outside Ukraine has the right to determine who the Ukrainian people should consider their heroes and who they should not.

"Today, when Ukrainian soldiers are giving their lives every day in the fight against Russian aggression, any attempts to question Ukraine's right to honour those who fought for Ukrainian statehood in various historical eras are not a contribution to reconciliation, but a step towards a new division," the diplomat said.

Zvarych believes that the decision to renounce the award is not a gesture of disrespect towards the Polish people, but a protest against the destruction of the legacy of Ukrainian-Polish reconciliation, built over decades by people of good will on both sides of the border.

Background:

• On the evening of 19 June, Nawrocki took the decision to strip Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle in connection with the naming of a Ukrainian military unit after the Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. He said Poland would not allow EU accession for those who do not understand the need to renounce the "cult of totalitarianism and violence".

• On 20 June, Zelenskyy said he had sent the order back to Nawrocki by post.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!