Russian invasion The world's response

Poland strips Zelensky of country's highest award

Polish President Karol Nawrocki is stripping Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of the country's highest award, the Order of the White Eagle. Nawrocki announced this on X, AFP reports.

The reason is that Zelensky chose to name a special unit after the nationalist guerrilla Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), which has met with harsh criticism in Poland.

The UPA was behind massacres of Poles during World War II. According to estimates, around 100,000 Poles were killed with the aim of creating an "ethnically pure" Ukraine.

Foreign Minister: Poland's decision benefits Moscow

The decision to strip Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of Poland's highest award, the Order of the White Eagle, has been criticized by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, reports AFP.

Sybiha describes the decision as a "strategic mistake" and as "disrespectful".

He also calls it an "irresponsible" decision that only benefits Moscow. In response, Sybiha announces that he will return a Polish award that he was previously awarded.