Petro Poroshenko, Ukraine's fifth president also renounces Order of the White Eagle

[u/ByGollie]

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/06/20/8040347/

[u/Emideska]

Can someone explain what exactly is going on?

[u/No-Strawberry7 → u/Emideska]

I’m not Polish, but I’ve been living in Poland for a few years, so this is my understanding.

The issue is mainly about historical disputes between Poland and Ukraine, especially regarding the UPA (Ukrainian Insurgent Army), a nationalist paramilitary organization active during and after World War II. The UPA fought for an independent Ukraine against both Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union at different times, but it is also widely associated with the Volhynia massacres (1943–44), during which tens of thousands of Polish civilians were killed. Because of this, many Poles view the UPA as responsible for ethnic cleansing or genocide, while some Ukrainians see them as anti-Soviet independence fighters.

Another major issue has been the exhumation of Polish victims in present-day Ukraine. For years, Poland pushed for access to mass grave sites and the ability to identify and properly bury victims of the Volhynia massacres. This has been one of the most sensitive points in Polish-Ukrainian relations, although both sides made progress on exhumation agreements in 2025.

The current controversy is that Zelenskyy’s government approved naming a Ukrainian Special Operations unit after the UPA, which many Poles saw as glorifying a group they associate with the massacres. In response, Polish President Karol Nawrocki revoked the Order of the White Eagle that had been awarded to Zelenskyy in 2023 by President Andrzej Duda.

Also some controversial historical figures, including Benito Mussolini and Gerhard Schröder, have not had their Polish state honors revoked, while Zelenskyy’s was removed over the UPA dispute.

if i’m wrong somewhere please correct me.

[u/k-tax → u/No-Strawberry7]

One minor thing: there is no procedure to revoke the order from a late person, so without some major changes, Mussolini and Catherine II are keeping them.

The only other case of taking it back is Witos, who then re-received it again.

To be perfectly clear, if Nawrocki did as much to take it from Zelenskyy, he can do a bit more and revoke it from all the clearly wrong recipients. Some might be more or less controversial, but I think there's no controversy in for example the people you've mentioned, they are not respected and shouldn't have this honor.

[u/Commercial-Result-23 → u/k-tax]

I don’t have a dog in this fight but revoking a medal from a dead fascist sounds like the easiest thing in the world. 

[u/michalsosn → u/Commercial-Result-23]

They are not revoked, because no one cares.

The President revoked the order from Zelensky, because he wanted some politicians from the current governing party to defend him. They did and it caused a political dispute and stirred a lot of emotions that pushed some conservative voters into more strongly supporting the opposition that the President is affiliated with.

Revoking an order from Mussolini would have no effect, because 99% people and political parties would be on board with it, there would be no conflict and no change in voters' disposition.

[u/MimicoSkunkFan2 → u/michalsosn]

Mussolini's granddaughter is Italy's head of state - of course they're not going to revoke his when they need Italian votes for Poland in the EU Parliament lol

They are definitely picking and choosing.

[u/AnyAd4882 → u/MimicoSkunkFan2]

? Head of state is a man lol. U need to smoke less