Poland reportedly suspends major arms shipment to Ukraine over regional tribute to Ukrainian Insurgent Army, whose fighters took part in WWII massacres of Poles
Source: RBC-Ukraine
Poland has suspended delivery of a large weapons package to Ukraine over the Lviv Regional Council’s decision to declare 2027 the year of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), a source told the news outlet RBC Ukraine.
Lviv Regional Council members voted at an October 20 plenary session to declare 2027 the year of the UPA, its commander Roman Shukhevych, and Ukrainian political figure Oleh Olzhych.
The source told RBC Ukraine that the Lviv regional authorities had “managed” to hold the vote just as Poland was preparing to send Ukraine a large military aid package. “Their irresponsible actions have now put delivery of this package on hold. Intensive efforts are underway through back channels to resolve a problem that was created out of nothing,” the source said.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called the Lviv Regional Council’s decision “unwise” and said it “harms Ukraine itself.” Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz called the decision unacceptable, saying it “deepens divisions” between the two peoples. “The Ukrainian authorities must distance themselves from this position,” he said.
Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Bosacki said Ukraine had assured Poland that the Lviv Regional Council’s decision would not take effect. He said the resolution had disappeared from the council’s website after Poland intervened.
The Lviv Regional Council’s Facebook post announcing the year of the UPA is now unavailable.
Issues surrounding the Ukrainian Insurgent Army regularly strain relations between Poland and Ukraine. The most recent such dispute arose in the spring of 2026, when Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree awarding the honorary title “Heroes of the UPA” to the Separate Special Operations Center North, part of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Special Operations Forces. The decision drew sharp criticism in Poland because UPA fighters took part in the Volhynia massacres of 1943–1944, in which an estimated 30,000 to 60,000 Poles and 20,000 to 30,000 Ukrainians were killed. After Poland condemned the decision, Zelensky promised to open the archives on the Volhynia massacres.
Poland and Ukraine’s UPA dispute
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