Wrocław unanimously condemns Lviv Regional Council’s designation of 2027 as a year of the UPA
Wrocław’s municipal council unanimously condemned the Lviv Regional Council’s decision to designate 2027 as a year of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, Roman Shukhevych and Oleg Olzhych. Local politicians called for the resolutions to be rescinded or officially repudiated and raised the possibility of reviewing Wrocław’s partnership with Lviv. Poland’s defence ministry denied reports that a major military-aid package had been suspended.
Key points
- Wrocław’s municipal council unanimously condemned the Lviv Regional Council’s decision.
- On 20 October, the Lviv Regional Council designated 2027 as the year of Roman Shukhevych, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army and Oleg Olzhych.
- A Wrocław council faction proposed an appeal asking Lviv mayor Andriy Sadovyi and the Lviv City Council to officially distance themselves from the regional decision.
- The proposed appeal also calls for the Lviv Regional Council to repeal the resolutions naming the UPA, Roman Shukhevych and Oleg Olzhych.
- Wrocław politicians raised the possibility of reviewing the cities’ partnership if Lviv’s authorities do not respond.
- Poland’s defence ministry denied reports that a major military-aid package had been suspended because of the Lviv decision.
Why it matters
The decision has intensified criticism within Poland and raised questions about relations between Poland and Ukraine. Wrocław officials are also considering whether to review their partnership with Lviv if the city authorities do not respond. Ukrainian authorities have described the regional decision as counterproductive.
What happened
Wrocław’s municipal council unanimously condemned the Lviv Regional Council’s decision to designate 2027 as a year of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, Roman Shukhevych and Oleg Olzhych. The council described the heroisation of the UPA as unacceptable and called the formation responsible for a genocide of Poles. A local faction proposed an appeal seeking an official distancing by Lviv’s mayor and city council from the regional resolutions, as well as their repeal. Wrocław politicians also raised the possibility of reviewing the partnership between the two cities if Lviv’s authorities do not respond.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry criticised the Lviv Regional Council’s decision as counterproductive and said its deputies had not consulted the ministry or other central authorities about the consequences for relations with Poland. Representatives of the regional council said they did not intend to repeal the resolutions. Ukrainian reporting also carried an unconfirmed claim from a government source that Poland had suspended a major military-aid package.
How international sources describe it
Polish reaction focused on condemnation of the decision, disputes over its historical meaning and possible effects on Polish-Ukrainian relations and the Wrocław-Lviv partnership. Polish politicians called for repeal or official distancing from the resolutions and discussed reviewing the cities’ partnership. Polish defence officials denied that military-aid deliveries had been suspended.
Where reporting differs
A Ukrainian government source claimed that Poland had suspended delivery of a major military-aid package because of the Lviv Regional Council’s decision. Poland’s Ministry of National Defence denied that such a suspension had occurred.
Background
On 20 October, the Lviv Regional Council voted to designate 2027 as a year of Roman Shukhevych, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army and Oleg Olzhych. A Wrocław council faction then proposed an appeal seeking an official distancing by Lviv’s mayor and city council from the regional decision. Representatives of the Lviv Regional Council said they did not intend to reverse it.