Budanov Returns Polish State Honor in Response to Warsaw Decision

Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, announced his refusal of the Golden Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, an award he received from the Polish President last year.

Budanov’s statement

Budanov published his decision on Facebook, on Saturday June 20, tying the move directly to Warsaw’s recent actions regarding President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“Unfortunately, Polish President Karol Nawrocki resorted to an unfriendly act toward our people, depriving the President of Ukraine of the previously awarded Order of the White Eagle,” Budanov wrote.

He stated that the decision serves the interests of Moscow and will be used against both countries.

Addressing the historical context of the dispute, Budanov noted that while Ukraine and Poland share both heroic and tragic history, it should prompt reflection rather than political maneuvering.

“Ukraine does not tell any other nation how to teach its history. Therefore, we reserve the fair right to our own national memory and dignity,” he stated.

Budanov also questioned the consistency of the Polish president’s decision, pointing out that historical figures such as Italian dictator Benito Mussolini have not been stripped of the Order of the White Eagle. He added that Ukraine will formally assess the event but intends to maintain an open partnership with its allies based on mutual respect.

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“But like any Ukrainian, I cannot stand aside and simply watch the flywheel of hatred being baselessly and artificially spun up against our citizens,” Budanov concluded, noting he is confident that the Ukrainian public and military support his decision.

Background of the dispute

The diplomatic disagreement centers on Polish President Karol Nawrocki’s announcement on Friday revoking Zelensky’s Order of the White Eagle.

Nawrocki cited Ukraine’s decision to grant a military unit the honorary title “Heroes of the UPA” as the reason for the revocation. The Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) was a nationalist partisan force active during and after World War II. While recognized in Ukraine for its role in the state’s independence struggle, Warsaw holds the organization responsible for mass killings of Polish civilians in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia.

“Such a symbol requires not only merit, but also respect for the values that form the foundation of our community,” Nawrocki stated, arguing that Ukraine’s European integration requires confronting difficult historical chapters.

Nawrocki maintained that the decision does not signal a shift in Poland’s security policy and reaffirmed that Warsaw continues to support Ukraine against Russian aggression.

The situation previously prompted Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha to return his Commander’s Cross with Star of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland.

Sybiha described Warsaw’s actions as a “strategic mistake” and emphasized that Ukraine has worked to depoliticize historical disputes, pointing to ongoing joint search and exhumation work in Huta Pieniacka conducted at Poland’s request.