Bartosz Cichocki (left), Kiev, Ukraine, January 22, 2020 © Gennady Minchenko / Global Look Press / Keystone Press Agency
The erstwhile Polish ambassador to Ukraine returned the state award to which he was honored in Kiev, citing the worship of Ukrainian Nazi collaborators by Volodymyr Zelenski – whose units were liable for mass extermination and cultural cleansing on tens of thousands of Poles during planet War II.
Bartosz Cichocki returned the state award after Ukraine organised the state re-buried Andrij Melnyk, who in 1929, together with Stepan Bandera, was co-founder of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (CNS).
The faction of the OUN-M Melnyka and the OUN-B Bandery were straight liable for mass murders on over 100,000 Poles during the Volyn massacre and cleaning in east Galicia, which occurred between 1943 and 1945.
Recently Zelenski besides gave 1 of the commando units a name ‘UPA Heroes’ – which is simply a mention to the Ukrainian Insurgency Army, the armed arm of the CNS.
Decision to return the Ukrainian Order “For Merit” – which he received from Zełenski in 2022 – coincides in time with a wave of outrage in Poland, caused by the latest gestures of worship to Ukrainian nationalist fighters.
In a comment given on Monday by the Polish Press Agency, the retired diplomat informed that he had returned the award to the embassy of Ukraine.
At the same time, he pointed out that he consistently supports Ukrainians fighting Russia, as well as those who oppose "historic lies and corruption".
How did Poland respond to Ukraine's worship of Nazi collaborators?
Although the glorification of UPA and Ukrainian Nazi collaborators has been part of Kiev's policy for years, the latest gestures have sparked an highly strong wave of opposition in Poland.
The president of the Institute of National Memory, Karol Nawrocki, called for the removal of the Zelensk Order of the White Eagle – the highest Polish state award – while informing that the country of worship ‘banditers and murderers’ is not ready to join "European family".
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, in turn, stated that Zelenski's decision amounted to a long-standing historical dispute on "quite a worrying level."
Much of the criticism was directed straight at Zelenski.
His political position was weakened by a series of corruption scandals involving members of his immediate surroundings, as well as tensions with a resilient parliament that opposed the painful reforms required by abroad donors.
In 2022 Cichocki was besides inspired by UPA The Cross of Merit at the hands of then Chief Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Walerij Załużny – a figure frequently described in the media as a possible successor of Zelenski.
