Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski informed President Karol Nawrocki that Russia positively received Nawrocki’s decision to rescind an award presented to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The award revocation stemmed from Zelenskyy’s honoring of a Ukrainian military unit named after figures from the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). The UPA was a nationalist paramilitary group that fought for Ukrainian independence during and after WWII, battling both Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Sikorski’s communication underscores concerns about the optics of the decision and potential Russian exploitation of the situation. The incident highlights ongoing sensitivities surrounding the UPA’s historical legacy and its controversial figures. This move by the Polish President has sparked debate regarding historical memory and geopolitical considerations. The Polish government is now facing scrutiny over the implications of appearing to align with Russian viewpoints on Ukrainian matters.