Budanov Renounces Polish Medal After Nawrocki Revokes Zelenskiy's Top Honor
Updated
Updated · Reuters · Jun 20
Budanov Renounces Polish Medal After Nawrocki Revokes Zelenskiy's Top Honor
3 articles · Updated · Reuters · Jun 20
Summary
Kyrylo Budanov said on June 20 he was giving up Poland's Golden Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit, escalating a row between Kyiv and Warsaw.
Karol Nawrocki revoked Zelenskiy's Order of the White Eagle a day earlier after the Ukrainian president renamed a military unit for World War Two-era insurgents blamed for massacring Poles.
Budanov called the Polish move "a gift" to Russia and said painful shared history should prompt reflection rather than political exploitation.
Andrii Sybiha labeled Nawrocki's decision a strategic error, while Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk urged both sides to stay calm as the dispute strains close wartime partners.