Poland revoked the Order of the White Eagle [1], its highest state honour, from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on June 21, 2026 [2].

The move signals a sharp deterioration in diplomatic relations between two key allies, as long-standing grievances over wartime history overshadow current strategic cooperation.

The decision stems from a dispute regarding the legacy of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) and the need to protect Poland's historical memory [3]. While reports differ on the specific official who ordered the revocation — with AP News identifying President Karol Nawrocki and KyivPost identifying President Andrzej Duda — both sources link the action to the UPA issue [1, 3].

Zelenskyy responded by returning the award. "I return the Order of the White Eagle to the people of Poland," Zelenskyy said [1].

The diplomatic fallout extended beyond the presidency. Ukrainian officials have begun renouncing Polish awards in response to the revocation [3]. Dmytro Kuleba, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, said that Ukraine cannot accept an honour tied to a narrative that glorifies the UPA, which he said committed crimes against Poles [4].

The UPA remains a point of contention due to its role in historical conflicts and the atrocities committed against Polish populations, a legacy that continues to clash with modern Ukrainian national narratives. This "honours war" reflects a deeper struggle to reconcile national identities while maintaining a security partnership [3, 4].

Warsaw and Kyiv have historically navigated these tensions, but the formal stripping of a state honour represents a rare and public escalation of historical grievances [1, 2].

“"I return the Order of the White Eagle to the people of Poland."”

The revocation of the Order of the White Eagle demonstrates that historical grievances regarding the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) can still override contemporary geopolitical alliances. By escalating a symbolic dispute into a formal diplomatic rift, both nations risk undermining the cohesion of their security partnership at a time when regional stability is critical.