Lviv Administrator Confirms UPA Resolution Is Unsigned

Maksym Kozytskyi, the head of the Lviv Oblast Military Administration, sent a letter to Wojciech Saługa, the Marshal of the Silesian Voivodeship in Poland. In the message, Kozytskyi stated that a recent resolution regarding the Ukrainian Insurgent Army has not been signed and is therefore not in force. The Polish Press Agency reported the contents of the letter based on information from the Chancellery of the Marshal of the Silesian Voivodeship.

The letter was a direct response to correspondence from Saługa. Kozytskyi wrote, "I would like to inform you that the resolution of the Lviv Oblast Council referred to in your letter has not yet been signed and has not come into force." He expressed his belief that decisions made by authorities at all levels should align with Ukraine's foreign policy interests and maintain good relations with Poland.

Kozytskyi acknowledged the sensitivity of historical remembrance for both nations. He suggested that such topics should be discussed with mutual respect and openness. The official also emphasized the long-standing partnership between Lviv Oblast and the Silesian Voivodeship, thanking the Polish region for its support and for helping Ukrainian residents and refugees during Russia's aggression.

The dispute stems from a vote taken on October 20 by the Lviv Oblast Council. The council designated 2027 as the Year of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, as well as the year of commanders-in-chief Roman Shukhevych and Oleh Olzhych. The UPA was a nationalist paramilitary group that fought for Ukrainian independence during and after World War II. Polish officials criticized the vote almost immediately after it passed.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk commented on the situation, noting that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated he would not support further steps by the Lviv Oblast Council to declare 2027 the year of the UPA and Roman Shukhevych. Tusk's statement addressed the potential impact of the local decision on bilateral relations.

Łukasz Gibała, the new mayor of Kraków, has also reacted to the Lviv council's decision. He proposed suspending Kraków's partnership with Lviv in response to the move. Gibała's proposal adds a new layer of tension to the existing diplomatic exchange between the two regions.

The UPA's legacy remains a point of contention between Ukraine and Poland, particularly regarding the treatment of the Polish population in western Ukraine during the war. The current clarification from Lviv officials aims to ease concerns in Poland that the regional decision would automatically become national policy or law without further approval.