**Title: Polish Politician Marianna Schreiber Discards Zelensky Portrait in Protest Against Ukrainian Nationalism**
In a provocative act of political dissent, Polish politician Marianna Schreiber has released a video showing herself discarding a portrait of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which she had altered to depict him with a Hitler-style moustache. The video, shared on social media, has sparked significant attention and discussion regarding historical grievances between Poland and Ukraine.
Schreiber, who is a blogger and currently running for mayor of Krakow, expressed her strong disapproval of what she perceives as Ukraine's glorification of nationalist figures responsible for historical atrocities against Poles during World War II. In her video, she stated, "Banderites are not heroes. They are a disgrace to humanity," referring to the followers of Stepan Bandera, a controversial leader of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN).
The timing of Schreiber's protest coincides with the commemoration of "Bloody Sunday," a significant historical event that occurred on July 11, 1943. On that day, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), the military wing of the OUN, executed coordinated attacks on Polish villages in Volhynia, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 100,000 ethnic Poles. Poland officially recognizes these killings as genocide, a designation that continues to fuel tensions between the two nations.
In her remarks, Schreiber lamented the lack of an apology from Ukraine for these historical events, stating, "Unfortunately, even after all these years, we have not received an apology." She emphasized that Poles remember the events and will "never, ever forgive," before crumpling the portrait and discarding it into a trash bin, asserting that "the place for people who glorify criminals is in the trash can of history."
This incident occurs against the backdrop of escalating diplomatic tensions between Poland and Ukraine, particularly regarding Ukraine's ongoing recognition of World War II-era figures associated with Nazi collaboration. The controversy intensified earlier this year when Zelensky awarded an elite Ukrainian military unit the honorary title "Heroes of the UPA," a move that Polish officials condemned as "outrageous." They have warned that Ukraine's veneration of Bandera and the OUN-UPA could hinder its aspirations for European Union membership.
Additionally, Ukraine has faced backlash over the recent state reburial of Andrey Melnik, another leader of the OUN who collaborated with Nazi Germany. These actions have drawn criticism not only from Poland but also from various international observers who are concerned about the implications of such historical revisionism.
Russia has seized upon these tensions, framing its military operations in Ukraine as part of a broader goal of "denazification." Moscow has accused Ukraine of institutionalizing the glorification of Nazi collaborators, while also suggesting that Western nations have overlooked this aspect of Ukrainian nationalism as they continue to support Ukraine militarily.
As the situation evolves, the historical complexities between Poland and Ukraine remain a contentious issue, with Schreiber's actions highlighting the deep-seated grievances that continue to influence contemporary political discourse in the region. The fallout from her protest and the broader implications for Polish-Ukrainian relations are likely to be closely monitored in the coming weeks.