Tension has recently been growing between Ukrainians and Poles due to years of history on the line being brought forward during the Russia-Ukraine war.
Poland has had its own centuries old disputes with Russia, and its people know what it’s like to get land, culture and safety taken away from them. Ever since the Russia-Ukraine war started, Poland has been a geographically close ally with Ukraine by donating weapons, aviation support, health supplies etc. Another way they displayed their allyship is by welcoming refugees.
On May 26 of 2026, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy named a Ukrainian military unit after the UPA. This caused controversy because the UPA murdered hundreds of thousands of Poles during WW2, with the intent to gain national independence. The people of Poland were distraught and felt disrespected by this, and their own President Karol Nawrocki took away The Order of the White Eagle from Zelenskyy in June of 2026; a decoration given by President Andrej Duda in April of 2023 on the first visit to Poland after Russia’s invasion.
The Order of the White Eagle is awarded to those who do outstanding service to the country, and Zelenskyy earned it by securing the friendship of Ukraine and Poland, upholding human rights and being resilient; this made the action of stripping away the honour a definitive question of Zelenskyy’s respect towards the kind gestures and good relations from Poland.
This particular state of affairs happened during a politically tumultuous time. Anti-Ukrainian parties were using this opportunity to further their agenda of dividing communities. Donald Tusk holds a fair viewpoint, and at the annual Ukraine Recovery Conference held without Zelenskyy in Gdansk, expressed, “We can build the future only on truth, on mutual respect, on an understanding of history.” It was also expressed that the support that Poland gives Ukraine during this difficult time won’t wilt; this was a mature and just declaration, contrary to how right-wing groups would prefer.
To shift attention to what has a greater chance of withering: the community. Zelenskyy’s parochial comment made a lot of Poles feel embittered, causing strains on relations within the common community. There are a sum of Polish citizens making Poland unsafe for Ukrainian residents. Ukrainians are being shamed for speaking Polish. They are suffering unwarranted physical attacks. Young children are being harassed simply because they are Ukrainian. There is a 30% increase of crimes targeted towards ethnic Ukrainians within a year. Furthermore, they have fallen victim to 80% of court cases between February and June 2026. Deportation is an impulsive action that was given to an 18-year-old Ukrainian girl, simply for getting carried away at a concert and jumping over a barrier.
Poland has been through great struggles, and for the government to give such strong unwavering aid to Ukraine is selfless and admirable, yet you can’t help but wonder if it’s all in vain if Polish locals and Ukrainians have growing hostility towards one another. It is safe to say that both parties view Russia as a threat. During a time of war, is it really in everyone’s best interest to weaken a country’s security by engaging in inner battles? It’s been proven time and time again that the people hold the power. We can only hope that Poles and Ukrainians sustain a good friendship and support each other to be stronger together.
