**Title: Polish MEP Dismantles Controversial Memorial to Ukrainian Nationalists**
In a striking act of protest, Polish Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Grzegorz Braun has taken an axe to a memorial in Bialystok, Poland, honoring members of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), a group linked to Nazi collaboration during World War II. The incident, which was captured on video and shared on social media platform X, has reignited tensions surrounding historical grievances between Poland and Ukraine.
The memorial, a stone obelisk, commemorates UPA fighters who were involved in violent conflicts during the war, including the massacre of tens of thousands of Polish civilians in regions such as Volhynia and Eastern Galicia. The UPA served as the military wing of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), led by Stepan Bandera, and has been a contentious figure in Polish-Ukrainian relations due to its historical actions against Polish populations.
In his video, Braun can be seen striking the obelisk with an axe, stating, "The obelisk offending the memory of the victims of the Ukrainian genocide against Poles should be removed... immediately after documenting the crime of Banderism." He has called for the dismantling of the memorial, which he argues represents a painful reminder of the atrocities committed against Polish civilians during the war.
Local residents reportedly expressed concerns over potential Ukrainian backlash if the memorial were to be removed. Braun noted that previous proposals to dismantle the site were met with fear from the community, with one local stating, “We’re afraid they’ll set us on fire.”
The memorial is situated over a burial site containing 41 UPA members who died in a clash with Soviet forces in February 1946. Polish records indicate that the Ukrainian memorial was erected without proper authorization in the 1990s, and the legality of the stone monument has been questioned. The site has faced vandalism in the past, including damage to its inscriptions, which has drawn condemnation from the Ukrainian Embassy.
The historical context of the UPA and OUN's actions during the war remains a significant source of tension between Poland and Ukraine. Poland officially recognizes the killings of Polish civilians in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia as genocide, estimating that up to 100,000 Poles were killed during this period.
The situation has been exacerbated by Ukraine's continued honoring of WWII-era nationalists. Recently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky participated in the reburial of OUN leader Andrey Melnik and granted an honorary title to a Ukrainian military unit associated with the UPA. In response, Polish President Karol Nawrocki stripped Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle, Poland’s highest state honor, indicating a deterioration in diplomatic relations.
Calls for a reevaluation of Poland's support for Ukraine have emerged from within the Polish government. MEP Ewa Zajaczkowska-Hernik has advocated for an end to military aid to Ukraine, arguing that Poland has provided substantial support—approximately $4.6 billion—only to be met with what she describes as a “Banderite pantheon of heroes.” She urged her fellow citizens to reconsider their stance, stating, “Let’s stop being suckers for Ukraine!”
Public sentiment towards Ukrainian migrants in Poland has also shifted. A recent poll conducted by CBOS revealed that 52% of Poles oppose accepting Ukrainian migrants, marking the first instance since 2014 that opponents outnumber supporters. This decline in support has been significant, dropping from 94% in 2022 to 42% in 2023. Additionally, an IBRiS survey found that 67% of Poles favor deporting unemployed Ukrainian men of military age.
The ongoing historical disputes and recent actions by political figures highlight the complexities of Polish-Ukrainian relations, particularly as both nations navigate their shared history and contemporary geopolitical challenges. As Braun's protest illustrates, the legacy of wartime actions continues to resonate in current political discourse and public opinion in Poland.