Tensions between Poland and Ukraine have intensified amid renewed disputes over historical massacres during World War II. This summer, the remains of 55 Polish civilians, including 24 children, were exhumed from mass graves in the western Ukrainian villages of Ostrowki and Wola Ostrowiecka and reburied in a ceremony attended by representatives from both countries. These victims, killed with axes, hammers, and firearms, were among more than 1,000 Poles massacred in 1943 by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), a nationalist partisan group.
The events have reopened deep wounds tied to a violent and complex history in the border regions of Volhynia and Eastern Galicia, where tens of thousands of Poles and Ukrainians lost their lives in mutual atrocities between 1942 and 1944. Disagreement over the legacy of the UPA remains central to the discord. While Ukraine celebrates the UPA for its resistance against Soviet forces, Poland condemns it as responsible for ethnic cleansing and war crimes, highlighting its collaboration with Nazi forces and the targeting of Polish civilians.
In May, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to name a special forces unit “Heroes of the UPA” sparked outrage in Poland and further strained diplomatic relations. Subsequently, Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki revoked Zelensky’s Order of the White Eagle—Poland’s highest honour—which Zelensky returned by mail. Several Ukrainian officials have also returned Polish state awards in protest. Most recently, Polish lawmakers have called for blocking Ukraine’s European Union accession unless the historical disputes are addressed, with Nawrocki sending a letter to Zelensky listing “contentious issues” for gradual resolution.
The dispute has impacted public sentiment and social cohesion, contributing to rising prejudice against Ukrainian refugees in Poland. A July poll indicated that a majority of Poles, 52 percent, now oppose continuing to accept Ukrainian refugees. Meanwhile, the Polish National Police recorded 180 hate crimes against Ukrainians in the first half of 2026, approaching the total number reported in all of 2025. Russian authorities have been accused by Poland of exploiting the historical dispute through disinformation campaigns, including the circulation of fabricated documents exaggerating Soviet-era massacres.
Voices on both sides underscore the difficulty of reconciling historical narratives. For Poles like Leon Popek, a historian whose family was murdered in the UPA attacks, uncovering and acknowledging the truth is vital for any reconciliation. Popek led the exhumation efforts that revealed his grandfather’s remains, identified by a crucifix.
Conversely, many Ukrainians stress that the suffering of their people during the same period is often overlooked. The Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv has documented over 28,000 Ukrainian deaths during Polish-Ukrainian violence, and survivors like Halyna Romaniuk recount brutal losses at the hands of Polish forces. Ukrainian scholars emphasize that differing interpretations of history are exploited politically, hindering reconciliation. Professor Oksana Kalishchuk of Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University called for dialogue, warning that Ukraine and Poland must unite given their shared adversary.
Olha Solodukha, a Ukrainian official who assisted the Polish exhumation team and lost her son fighting Russian forces, articulated the emotional burden this historical dispute imposes amid present conflict. She expressed frustration that despite joint efforts and sacrifices defending Europe, Ukrainians feel blamed for events long before their time.
The renewed focus on historical atrocities has thus complicated an already fragile alliance, underscoring the challenge of balancing memory, justice, and cooperation between two nations confronting ongoing security threats in the region.