Polish Activists Award Zelenskyy New Civic Medal After Nawrocki Revokes White Eagle Order
Updated
Updated · Ukrainska Pravda · Jun 21
Polish Activists Award Zelenskyy New Civic Medal After Nawrocki Revokes White Eagle Order
3 articles · Updated · Ukrainska Pravda · Jun 21
Summary
Polish civil society groups said they will give Volodymyr Zelenskyy the new Civic Order of the Future, framing it as a grassroots rebuttal to President Karol Nawrocki’s decision to strip him of Poland’s highest state honor.
1943-era Volhynia grievances are driving the clash: activists accused the Polish right of exploiting the wartime massacre ahead of parliamentary elections and said the escalation helps Russian propaganda while Ukraine fights Russia in 2026.
Szymon Szymankiewicz created the medal, which organizers said also honors the Ukrainian people and signals that many Poles reject being turned against Ukrainians.
The award fight has already widened into a diplomatic rupture: Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha warned Kyiv would mirror unfriendly steps, Zelenskyy mailed back his order on June 20, and several senior Ukrainian figures renounced their Polish decorations.