Poland has rescinded its highest state honour from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following Kyiv’s decision to name a military unit after a controversial nationalist figure linked to the wartime massacre of Polish civilians during World War II. The move, made by Polish President Karol Nawrocki, escalates tensions between the two countries. The honoured unit is associated with the wartime killings of tens of thousands of Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia in the 1940s. This decision arrives shortly before a crucial international conference scheduled in Gdańsk, Poland, focused on the reconstruction of Ukraine. The act is widely seen as a significant diplomatic rebuke from Warsaw. It raises concerns about potential ramifications for ongoing cooperation between Poland and Ukraine, particularly regarding support for Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia. The timing of the decision is particularly sensitive given Poland’s role as a key ally to Ukraine.