Postponing UPA commemoration means silent acceptance of control – Vyatrovych
Former head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory (UINP), Member of Parliament Volodymyr Vyatrovych (European Solidarity faction) believes that by postponing the commemoration of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), Ukraine is agreeing to external control.
Former Ukrainian Institute of National Memory head Volodymyr Vyatrovych claims that postponing the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) commemoration in Ukraine is a tacit surrender to external influence. Polish politicians, aware that forcing Ukrainians to abandon UPA remembrance now is unattainable, are instead crafting conditions to achieve their aim.
They employ military aid discussions to pressure Ukraine and spread rumors that aid has been halted. Vyatrovych asserts that Polish leaders will never calmly accept such decisions and the only way for them to be satisfied is by relinquishing the commemoration altogether. Consequently, postponing merely signifies acquiescing, thereby passively submitting to control.
This isn't solely a moral obligation to remember those who fought for freedom in the past, but also about the contested claims of that era and the present struggle: the right to self-determination, making beneficial decisions, and being autonomous historical agents, Vyatrovych emphasized. The previous day, European Pravda reported, based on a Ukrainian government source, that Lviv Regional Council's decision to name 2027 Year of Roman Shukhevych, UPA, and Oleh Olzhych caused the suspension of significant military aid from Poland.
Poland's Ministry of National Defence later denied this. On October 20, the Lviv Regional Council voted in favor of the 2027 Year designation. The decision came after Polish President Karol Nawrocki overturned the Order of the White Eagle for Zelenskyy due to his honorary naming of Ukrainian UPA heroes. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk deemed the Lviv Council's action detrimental to Ukraine's enemies, while Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said it damaged bilateral relations.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski submitted a petition to add Lviv Regional Council MP Svyatoslav Sheremeta to Poland's undesirable persons list. The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed the value of strong ties with Poland, viewing the decision as detrimental to ongoing efforts. On October 21, Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Bosacki stated Ukraine had pledged to rescind the Lviv Regional Council's decision.
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