Poland – one of Ukraine’s greatest supporters betrayed…

Since 2022, Poland has stood among Ukraine’s greatest supporters. Poland opened its homes to millions of refugees, provided billions of dollars in military and humanitarian aid, became the primary transit hub for Western assistance, treated the wounded, and repeatedly advocated for Ukraine on the international stage. Few nations have sacrificed as much, relative to their size, for the Ukrainian people.
That is why it has been deeply disappointing to witness, at least in many of my own social media discussions, hostility and contempt directed toward Poles instead of gratitude. Rather than acknowledging Poland’s extraordinary support, some conversations quickly turn to attacking Poland, denying or minimizing the suffering of Polish victims, defending the glorification of perpetrators of atrocities against Poles, or opposing the exhumation of those still waiting for a proper burial.
I know that social media does not represent every Ukrainian, and some Ukrainians have expressed sincere gratitude to Poland… But the hostility I have personally encountered is still painful to see. True friendship between nations cannot rest solely on aid in times of crisis; it also requires honesty about history, respect for one another’s suffering, and gratitude where gratitude is due.
Here is a broad overview of what Poland has done:
Military support

• Donated hundreds of armored vehicles and tanks, including T-72 tanks and PT-91 tanks.
• Supplied self-propelled artillery, armored personnel carriers, ammunition, air-defense equipment, drones, and other military supplies.
• Transferred MiG-29 fighter aircraft.
• Trained thousands of Ukrainian soldiers.
• Continues to provide new military assistance packages.
  The main logistics hub
• Poland became Ukraine’s principal logistical gateway to the West.
• According to the Polish Ministry of National Defence, over 90% of Western military aid to Ukraine has transited through Poland.
• Polish railways, roads, airports, and warehouses have been essential for moving weapons, humanitarian supplies, and equipment into Ukraine.
  Refugees
• Poland opened its borders immediately after the invasion.
• Approximately 1.6 million Ukrainians found shelter in Poland between 2022 and the end of 2024, while millions more crossed through Poland during the early months of the war.
• Ukrainians received:
  • Legal protection
  • Access to healthcare
  • Access to schools
  • The right to work
  • Social benefits
  • Housing assistance
  • Public transportation (initially free)
    Medical care
• Polish hospitals treated wounded Ukrainian civilians.
• Poland also treated wounded Ukrainian soldiers.
• Medical evacuations were organized from Ukraine into Poland for specialized treatment.
  Humanitarian assistance
• Food convoys
• Medicines
• Ambulances
• Firefighting equipment
• Water pumps
• Power generators
• Winter supplies
• Clothing
• Shelter materials
• Thousands of tons of humanitarian cargo delivered or transported through Poland.
  Financial support
• Poland has spent billions of dollars on:
  • Military assistance
  • Refugee support
  • Humanitarian aid
  • Infrastructure
• According to Poland’s National Security Bureau, the combined cost of assistance amounted to about 4.9% of Poland’s GDP, among the highest levels of support relative to national income.
  Civil society support
  Ordinary Polish citizens:
• Opened their homes to refugees.
• Donated food and clothing.
• Organized volunteer transport.
• Raised billions of złoty in donations.
• Sent countless privately funded aid shipments into Ukraine. Estimates indicate Polish society donated more than 10 billion złoty in private assistance during the first months of the war.
  Government cooperation
  Poland also:
• Helped safeguard backup copies of Ukrainian government databases.
• Assisted in protecting digital state records.
• Supported the continuity of Ukrainian government operations.
  Energy and reconstruction
• Supported reconstruction initiatives.
• Participated in international recovery conferences.
• Facilitated investment and trade related to Ukraine’s rebuilding.
  Diplomatic support
  Poland has consistently:
• Advocated for sanctions against Russia.
• Supported Ukraine’s aspirations toward closer integration with Europe.
• Pressed NATO allies to increase military assistance.
• Been among Ukraine’s strongest diplomatic advocates in Europe, even as historical disputes have remained unresolved.

by Edward Reid on Fecebook

Relations between Warsaw and Kyiv have significantly deteriorated following Ukrainian President Zelensky’s decision to honor the UPA, an organization responsible for mass atrocities against Polish civilians. The Polish side firmly maintains that the WWII-era genocide of over 100,000 (known officially) Poles by Ukrainian nationalists cannot be ignored.
This is particularly poignant given that the majority of the victims remain unburied, largely due to the obstruction of exhumation efforts by Ukrainian authorities. Michał Kamiński, Deputy Marshal of the Senate and a politician tied to Poland’s liberal government, has decided to return the Ukrainian state honors he previously received for his contributions to Ukraine’s European integration.
In his letter, Kamiński highlighted that Poland has served as Ukraine’s advocate in Europe, even “when many European politicians approached Ukrainian aspirations with reservations.” The senator noted that Poland has consistently set aside historical disputes for years, taking a highly responsible approach to bilateral relations. He added, “Unfortunately, today it is hard to shake the impression that this goodwill has not been duly reciprocated.”
The Deputy Marshal also pointed out that German WWII soldiers are being buried in Ukraine without administrative hurdles, a stark contrast to the ongoing obstacles surrounding the Polish victims of the Volhynia genocide.

Kamiński wrote that if those responsible for mass atrocities against civilians are made into national heroes, Poland has not merely the right, but an absolute duty to respond.
The Deputy Marshal underscored that a state’s choice of heroes is, ultimately, a choice of values. The politician’s letter to the Ukrainian ambassador was reported by 300POLITYKA.

For the past four years, Poland has remained silent.
It stayed silent when, in the fervor of “decommunization, streets named after Stepan Bandera and Roman Shukhevych began appearing in places where people remember the OUN and UPA not as freedom fighters, but as killers of Communist youth activists and Red Army soldiers.
Poland stayed silent when military unit bearing the name Nachtigall – Nazi collaborationist unit – appeared within
Ukraine’s armed forces.
It stayed silent when Azov-linked brigades increasingly presented themselves as heirs to the OUN and UPA, established the Konovalets School, and began commemorating the anniversary of the Waffen-SS Galicia Division instead of Victory Day over Nazism.
It stayed silent when the Azov movement promoted maps of a “Greater Ukraine” that included territories belonging to Poland.
But every year that Poland remains silent, this monster of ethnic nationalism grows stronger, more aggressive, and more demanding.
The cycle of silence must be broken — not only to defend Poland’s national interests, but to save Ukraine from itself.
Because the Ukraine that is emerging today is increasingly consumed by a chauvinistic, militarized form of ethnic nationalism. It is an ideology that devours the country from within while simultaneously becoming a source of anxiety for its neighbors.
Ignoring this trend will not make it disappear. Silence has not moderated it. Silence has enabled it.
And unless that silence ends, the consequences will not stop at Ukraine’s borders.

Very important words from Dr Marta Hawryszko – Ukrainian Researcher who is NOT afraid of the truth.

Zelensky’s betrayal cost him Poland’s highest honour

President Karol Nawrocki‘s decision to strip President Volodymyr Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle is justified and deserves respect. It is difficult to expect respect for Polish historical memory from the authorities of a state that maintains and fosters the cult of formations responsible for cruel crimes committed against citizens of the Republic of Poland. A state that respects its own history should maintain clarity and consistency in such matters. Karol Nawrocki’s decision reflects the belief that Poland’s dignity and historical memory are non-negotiable.

Very important decision by President Nawrocki – Poland cannot stay silent anymore. For both – emerging Democracy in Ukraine and it’s own interest. At some point you have to say stop, despite taking away Zelensky’s White Eagle Medal – noting changes in support. We are on your side but the line must be drawn here.