European Parliament Adds Criticism of Ukrainian Unit Renaming to EU Accession Report

The European Parliament on Wednesday approved an amendment that criticised the decision to rename an elite Ukrainian military unit after the World War II-era Ukrainian Insurgent Army. The amendment described the choice as a "recent unnecessary and unprovoked escalation" and was added to a report assessing Ukraine's path to EU membership.

A large majority of MEPs voted in favor of the amendment, which was tabled by a Polish MEP from the European People's Party together with a German colleague. The text also recalled Poland's support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia's invasion.

Background on the Unit In Ukraine, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army is widely commemorated for its role in opposing Soviet rule and fighting for independence. In Poland, the group is associated with the Volyn massacre of 1943–45, during which tens of thousands of Poles were killed under Nazi occupation. Poland has recognized the massacre as a genocide, a label Ukraine has rejected.

In response to the renaming, Polish officials stripped the Ukrainian president of the Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest state honor, which had been awarded in 2023. The dispute affected the latest Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdańsk, where the Ukrainian president was replaced by the Ukrainian prime minister.

"[It is] a very strong signal, it's a warning to Ukrainian authorities not to create bad emotions and not to act against European values," the Polish MEP told Euronews after the vote. "They have to think about how to be a part of our Union. If they would like to be [part of it], they have to respect the common rules," he said.

Despite the amendment, the Parliament's resolution reiterates support for Ukraine against Russia's aggression and acknowledges the country's progress towards accession to the EU. Lawmakers stated that "Ukraine's future lies in the EU" and recognised Ukraine's European integration as "a strategic priority for the Union".