World · Europe · 2 hrs ago
Poland condemns Lviv plan to honor UPA as Ukraine ties face new strain
Lviv’s regional council voted to honor the UPA and two Ukrainian figures by declaring 2027 their year.
The UPA was a Ukrainian independence movement that fought Soviet rule, and its military leader Roman Shukhevych remains a divisive figure.
Poland condemned the vote, citing the UPA’s role in the Volyn massacres, in which tens of thousands of Poles and thousands of Ukrainians were killed.
One report says Poland has put a major arms shipment to Ukraine on hold over the decision.
Ukraine’s government has distanced itself from the vote, calling it harmful to efforts to improve relations with Poland.
A Polish official said Ukraine had assured Warsaw the resolution would not take effect, and it later disappeared from the council’s website.
Lviv Oblast Council voted to declare 2027 the year of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), its commander Roman Shukhevych and Ukrainian political figure Oleh Olzhych.
Poland’s government and diplomatic representatives condemned the decision, saying it could damage trust and relations with Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry called the decision counterproductive to efforts to improve relations and resolve disputes.
Meduza reported, citing a source to RBC Ukraine, that Poland had put a major weapons package for Ukraine on hold over the vote.
The dispute reflects longstanding differences over the UPA and its role in killings of Poles during the Second World War.
- Who
- Lviv Oblast Council adopted the decision; Polish officials condemned it, and Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry criticized it.
- What
- The council declared 2027 the year of the UPA, Roman Shukhevych and Oleh Olzhych. Meduza reported that Poland had put a major weapons package on hold.
- When
- The council voted on October 20, 2026; the articles were published on October 21.
- Where
- Lviv Oblast, western Ukraine, and in the context of relations between Poland and Ukraine.
- Why
- The UPA’s role in the Volyn massacres remains contentious, particularly in Poland.
Polish officials
Lviv Oblast Council
Tribute to the UPA
Polish officials
Polish officials said honoring the UPA and Shukhevych was unacceptable and ran counter to European values and good relations.
Lviv Oblast Council
The council voted to designate 2027 the year of the UPA, Shukhevych and Olzhych.
Effect on bilateral ties
Polish officials
Polish officials said the decision could deepen divisions and undermine mutual trust.
Lviv Oblast Council
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said the council’s decision was counterproductive to efforts to develop relations and resolve contentious issues.
Zelensky awarded the honorary title “Heroes of the UPA” to a Ukrainian Armed Forces unit, drawing criticism in Poland.
Lviv Oblast Council voted to declare 2027 the year of the UPA, Shukhevych and Olzhych.
Polish officials and Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry publicly criticized the council’s decision.
- Council vote
- October 20, 2026
- Year designated
- 2027
- Honorees
- UPA, Roman Shukhevych and Oleh Olzhych
- Reported arms package
- Meduza said Poland had put a major package on hold, citing a source to RBC Ukraine.
- Volyn massacres
- The articles describe killings of Poles in 1943–1945; Meduza gives an estimate of 30,000 to 60,000 Poles killed.
2 sources
What people are saying
glorifying the UPA and criminal figures runs counter to European values and the strategic and neighborly relations between Ukraine and Poland.
deepens divisions
is counterproductive to our current efforts to further develop Ukrainian-Polish relations and resolve contentious issues amid Russia's full-scale aggression
harms Ukraine itself
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Сьогодні, 20 жовтня, під час четвертого пленарного засідання XXVIII позачергової сесії Львівської обласної ради було ухвалено рішення про проголошення 2027 року Роком Романа Шухевича, Роком Української повстанської армії та Роком Олега Ольжича. Глорифікація УПА та злочинних
The Lviv Regional Council has designated 2027 in the Lviv region as the Year of Roman Shukhevych, an architect of the genocide in Volhynia, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), and Oleh Olzhych, a leader of the OUN-M. Among those being commemorated, Roman Shukhevych stands out as
Decyzja Lwowskiej Rady Obwodowej, by 2027 rok był rokiem UPA i Szuchewycza, jest nieakceptowalna. Taka decyzja nie buduje wzajemnego zaufania między narodami, lecz wzmacnia podziały. Konieczne jest odcięcie się władz Ukrainy od tego stanowiska.