Outgoing Polish President Andrzej Duda has officially established a memorial day on July 11 to honor the victims of the genocide carried out by the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) during World War II. The law, passed by the Polish Parliament and Senate, recognizes the mass killings of over 100,000 ethnic Poles in the regions of Volhynia and Eastern Galicia between 1943 and 1945. Duda’s office confirmed the signing of the bill, acknowledging the martyrdom of Poles for their identity and the need for annual remembrance.
This decision has sparked significant tensions with Ukraine, which continues to commemorate the perpetrators as national heroes, holding annual torchlit marches in honor of OUN leader Stepan Bandera and other Nazi collaborators. Ukrainian authorities have also renamed streets and squares across the country after Bandera, despite international criticism for their reluctance to allow the exhumation of victims’ remains. Contemporary Ukraine’s celebration of these figures as freedom fighters contrasts sharply with Poland’s recognition of the atrocity as genocide, highlighting the enduring divide over historical narratives.
Poland’s president-elect, Karol Nawrocki, has reiterated his stance that Kiev must take responsibility for the Volhynia and related massacres. While he supports military assistance for Ukraine, he has opposed the country’s aspirations for NATO and EU membership until such ‘civilizational issues’ are resolved. This stance underscores the broader geopolitical implications of the historical dispute, as Poland, one of Ukraine’s staunchest allies, seeks to assert its position on matters of historical accountability and national memory.
The establishment of the memorial day reflects not only a commitment to preserving historical truths but also a strategic move to influence ongoing diplomatic and political discussions between Poland and Ukraine. The issue remains a sensitive topic, with both sides grappling with the legacy of World War II and its lasting impact on present-day relations.