War of awards: Budanov refused the award after Poland stripped Zelensky of the order

At least three people announced the return of awards: Буданов, Сибіга and Боднар

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20 Jun 2026

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Буданов відмовився від польської нагороди

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov 20 June 2026 announced that he is renouncing the Gold Officer’s Cross of the Order “For Merits to Poland”. He did this in response to the decision of the President of Poland Karol Nawrocki to strip the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle — Poland’s highest state award.

Karol Nawrocki announced his decision on 19 June 2026. He cited the granting of the honorary title “Heroes of the UPA” to one of the units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Special Operations Forces as the reason. The Polish president described this move by the Ukrainian side as outrageous and as undermining trust between the two states.

Karol Nawrocki reminded that after the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, Poland provided Ukraine with significant humanitarian, economic and military assistance, and that Polish servicemen trained thousands of Ukrainian defenders. At the same time, he assured that his decision is not directed against the Ukrainian people and does not mean a cessation of support for Ukraine in resisting Russian aggression.

The Order of the White Eagle was presented to Volodymyr Zelensky by the then President of Poland Andrzej Duda on 5 April 2023. The Ukrainian president was honored for his contribution to the development of relations between Ukraine and Poland, cooperation for the sake of democracy, peace and security in Europe, and for the protection of human rights.

Reacting to the Polish president’s decision, Kyrylo Budanov called it an unfriendly move toward the Ukrainian people and emphasized that historical disputes should not be turned into a tool of political manipulation:

“Our peoples have long-standing relations and different pages of history — both heroic and tragic. However, this should be a reason for deep reflection, not crude political speculation. Ukraine does not tell any other nation how to teach its history. So we likewise reserve the just right to our own national memory and dignity. I am convinced that this gesture by the President of Poland is not about justice or anything of the sort. After all, what justice can there be if the Order of the White Eagle, for example, has still not been revoked from the Italian fascist dictator and Hitler’s accomplice Benito Mussolini?” — Budanov.

According to Kyrylo Budanov, Karol Nawrocki’s decision was a “gift” to Moscow that Russian propaganda will use against both countries. The Head of the Office of the President said he could not remain on the sidelines when, in his view, hatred is being artificially stirred up against Ukrainians, and therefore he is renouncing the Polish award he received.

At the same time, Kyrylo Budanov assured that Ukraine will continue to adhere to the principles of open and equal partnership with its allies. He emphasized that Ukrainian servicemen continue to defend not only their own state from Russian aggression, but all of Europe, including Poland.

Besides Kyrylo Budanov, as of 20 June 2026 two other Ukrainian officials have announced their refusals of Polish state awards:

Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha announced his intention to return the Commander’s Cross with Star of the Order “For Merits to Poland”, which he received in 2022.

“The decision to strip the President of Ukraine of the Order of the White Eagle is a strategic mistake by the President of Poland that benefits only Moscow. We regret that emotions prevailed in Warsaw and forced Polish politicians to take unjustified, impulsive and contemptuous steps not even against President Zelensky, but above all against the Ukrainian people,” — Sybiha.

And the Ambassador of Ukraine to Poland Vasyl Bodnar will return the Knight’s Cross of the Order “For Merits to the Republic of Poland”.

Thus, Karol Nawrocki’s decision has already prompted public renunciations of Polish state awards by two senior Ukrainian officials — Kyrylo Budanov and Andrii Sybiha. Both stressed that the political escalation between Ukraine and Poland plays into Russia’s hands, which is trying to sow discord among allies during the war.

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