Tusk: decision to declare 2027 “year of the UPA” will harm Ukraine exclusively

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk criticized the decision of the Lviv Regional Council to proclaim 2027 the year of Shukhevych, the UPA, and OUN figure Oleg Olzhych, warning that such steps could block Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.

His words were reported by RMF24.

“I appeal to all our partners in Kyiv, to those who understand how important good relations and allied cooperation between Poland and Ukraine are: it is your responsibility to prevent such things from happening. Such demonstrations harm Ukraine exclusively and help those who wish it ill,” — Tusk said.

The Polish prime minister said he does not understand this kind of tactic by the Ukrainian authorities. According to him, this is not a problem for Warsaw but a problem for Kyiv.

The decision was made in October: the Lviv Regional Council declared 2027 the year of Shukhevych, the UPA, and OUN figure Oleg Olzhych. The initiative was authored by council deputy Svyatoslav Sheremeta.

Polish officials reacted harshly. Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz called the decision “unacceptable.” Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski announced that Sheremeta had been added to the list of undesirable persons — specifically as the author of this initiative.