Poland Bans Ukrainian President Zelensky From Using Rzeszow Airport Amid Diplomatic Tensions
Following escalating diplomatic tensions between Warsaw and Kyiv, Poland has banned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other Ukrainian officials from using Rzeszow Airport; a decision that affects one of Ukraine’s key transit routes.
According to reports, Zelensky, who recently traveled to the United Kingdom, had to use Chisinau Airport instead of Rzeszow. He had regularly used Rzeszow Airport in eastern Poland as one of his main international travel routes.
The root of this tension lies in Zelensky’s recent decree awarding the Special Operations Forces of Ukraine the honorary title of “Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA).” Zelensky stated that the purpose of this move was to “revive the historical traditions of the national army” and to honor the role of this unit in defending Ukraine’s territorial integrity and independence.
From Kyiv’s perspective, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army was a nationalist and anti-Soviet group that fought for Ukraine’s independence during World War II. However, in Poland, this group is recognized as responsible for large-scale massacres of Polish civilians in the Volhynia region in 1943 and 1944 and is regarded as a perpetrator of genocide. Warsaw considers these events to be organized crimes and views the UPA as collaborators with Nazi Germany.
Amid ongoing disputes, media reports also indicate that Poland’s President, Andrzej Duda, is considering revoking the highest state award, the Order of the White Eagle, from Volodymyr Zelensky; a move that could deepen the political rift between the two neighbors.
