Former Polish Ambassador to Ukraine Bartosz Cichocki said he has returned a Ukrainian state decoration awarded to him by President Volodymyr Zelensky, citing Kyiv’s recent decisions related to honoring the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). According to Polish broadcaster RMF FM, Cichocki announced the decision in a statement sent to media outlets on Monday, June 1.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “In connection with decisions by the President of Ukraine honoring the UPA and a collaborator of German Nazis, I have returned the decoration awarded to me,” Cichocki said. The former diplomat served as Poland’s ambassador to Ukraine from 2019 to 2023. In June 2022, Zelensky awarded him the Order of Merit, Second Class, in recognition of his role in strengthening bilateral relations during the first months of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Cichocki said he would continue supporting Ukrainians fighting against Russian aggression, historical falsehoods, and corruption despite returning the award. The decision follows Zelensky’s May 27 decree granting the honorary title “Heroes of the UPA” to the Separate Special Operations Center “North,” an elite unit of Ukraine’s Armed Forces. Zelensky said the designation was intended to restore “historical traditions of the national military” and recognize the unit’s role in defending Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity.