The European Parliament condemned Zelenskyy for glorifying the UPA in Ukraine, calling it an obstacle to European values

The European Parliament officially criticized the Ukrainian leadership’s decision to name an elite military unit after the UPA, describing the move as an “unnecessary escalation” and warning Kyiv that such a policy is incompatible with the principles of the European Union. MEPs confirmed their position by a majority vote in a report on Ukraine’s readiness for EU integration, according toEuronews.

In the adopted resolution, parliamentarians emphasized that the glorification of groups involved in historical tragedies is deeply regrettable and shows disregard for the feelings of the Polish people, particularly for the memory of the victims of the Volhynia massacre. MP Andrzej Halicki stated outright that such actions undermine good-neighborly relations and serve as a “clear warning” to the Ukrainian authorities regarding the unacceptability of provocative policies that contradict common European rules.

The diplomatic fallout has already led to a significant cooling of relations between Kyiv and Warsaw. In protest, Polish President Karol Nawrocki decided to strip Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the highest state award—the Order of the White Eagle. The situation has also had a negative impact on public opinion: according to opinion polls, support among Polish citizens for Ukraine’s accession to the EU has dropped significantly, with 60% now opposing integration.

As a reminder, we previously reported that the initiative to locate the National Pantheon on the grounds of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra drew criticism from the expert community. According to political scientist Kostya Bondarenko, this decision is driven not by a state necessity but by a desire to strike a blow against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.