The head of the MON stressed that Poland has supported Ukraine on many levels – humanitarian, military, logistical and political. He besides pointed out that independent Ukraine is crucial for the safety of Poland and the full region. In his opinion, however, the decision to honour UPA caused strong emotions in Poland, including opposition and feelings of harm.
Kosiniak-Kamysz noted that any Ukrainians see the Ukrainian Insurgency Army as a symbol of the fight against russian domination. However, he recalled that for Poles this organization remains primarily associated with crimes committed on civilians during the Volyn massacre.
Between 1943 and 1945 tens of thousands of Poles were murdered in Volyn and east Małopolska. Women, children, the elderly. full families and villages were killed. Many victims. To this day there are no graves, crosses, or places where their loved ones could light candles. This pain cannot be overturned. Genocide remains genocide – explained the head of the MON.
New heroes
The Minister besides stressed that work for these events cannot be attributed to the full Ukrainian nation. He recalled people who at the time rescued Poles and opposed violence, recognizing them as a model of humanitarian attitude.
According to Kosiniak-Kamish, modern Ukraine does not gotta mention to controversial historical figures due to the fact that it has its own heroes – soldiers fighting Russian aggression today. As he pointed out, their actions and dedication are adequate reason for building national memory and military tradition.
Image of Ukraine
The head of the MON assessed that the decision of the president of Ukraine could negatively affect not only relations between Warsaw and Kiev, but besides the image of Ukraine itself. He appealed to find specified a form of honouring contemporary soldiers, which would not arouse opposition and pain among families of victims of planet War II events.
He stressed that although Poland will proceed to support Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, in his opinion the state glorification of UPA remains unacceptable for Poles.
A Different View of History
Last week, Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, signed a decree giving the "North" peculiar Operations Center to the Ukrainian peculiar Operations Force the name of the UPA Heroes. As explained, the decision aimed at referring to the historical traditions of the Ukrainian military and to appreciating the merits of the individual in defending the independency and territorial integrity of the state.
The question of the activities of the Organizations of Ukrainian Nationalists (CNS) and UPA has been 1 of the most hard points in Polish-Ukrainian relations for years. Poland recognises the events in Volyn as genocide carried out on the Polish population, while any Ukrainian communities interpret them as part of the wider Polish-Ukrainian conflict for which both parties were responsible.
