Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz
According to the Polish politician – a view shared by the Polish Institute of National Remembrance – such a decision does not help to strengthen trust between the Polish and Ukrainian peoples and merely reinforces existing dividing lines. The politician also called on the Ukrainian authorities to distance themselves from the position of the Lviv Regional Council.
The Polish Embassy in Ukraine also reacted to the Lviv Council’s decision. In a statement by the diplomatic mission, published on the social media platform X, it was emphasised that “glorifying the UPA and criminal figures runs counter to European values, as well as the strategic and good-neighbourly nature of Polish-Ukrainian relations. “The European Parliament spoke out unequivocally on this issue in July this year,” writes euronews.
Following a series of indignant statements from Poland, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasised that the decision by members of the Lviv Regional Council to declare 2027 the ‘Year of Roman Shukhevych, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army and Oleg Olzhych’ had been taken at regional level without consultation with diplomats or central authorities. “In this context, we consider that the recent decision by the Lviv Regional Council, which touches upon sensitive historical issues on the bilateral agenda, is counterproductive to our ongoing efforts aimed at the further development of Ukrainian-Polish relations, and to resolve contentious issues against the backdrop of full-scale Russian aggression and unprecedented security threats to our two countries and the region as a whole,” reads the statement from the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Lviv authorities explain their decision by pointing out that 2027 will mark the 120th anniversary of Roman Shukhevych’s birth. The year 2027 will also mark the 85th anniversary of the founding of the UPA. “This is our history, our heroes, and we must honour their memory as befits them,” said Sviatoslav Sheremeta, head of the culture committee and a councillor, at the meeting.
This story was translated with the assistance of artificial intelligence.The translation was also reviewed by the Logos Press editorial team.
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