NEWSLETTER
From Poland with Love. June 2026
Topic of the Month
Cold War Between Warsaw and Kyiv
The most serious diplomatic crisis between Poland and Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion has unfolded over a familiar issue: history. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's move to grant a Ukrainian Special Operations unit the honorary name "Heroes of the UPA" has snowballed into a much larger diplomatic clash with Poland.
In late May, Zelenskyy signed a decree granting a Special Operations Forces unit the honorary designation "Heroes of the UPA," explaining that the move was intended to restore the historical traditions of Ukraine's armed forces. In Ukraine, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) is officially recognised as a force that fought for national independence against both Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Under Ukrainian law, veterans of organizations recognised as fighters for Ukraine's independence enjoy protected legal status, and public honouring of these movements forms part of the state's official memory policy.
For Poland, however, the symbolism carries an entirely different meaning. The UPA is associated above all with the Volhynia massacres and ethnic cleansing of Polish civilians during the Second World War (read more in the April 2025 issue). Since a 2016 resolution of the Polish parliament, these crimes have officially been recognised by Poland as genocide.
President Karol Nawrocki responded first by announcing his intention to revoke the Order of the White Eagle awarded to Zelensky in 2023, before formally doing so on 19 June. In his official address, Nawrocki argued that "historical truth is not, and can never be, a bargaining chip" and stated that "for the overwhelming majority of Polish society, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army remains, above all, a formation responsible for the brutal crimes committed against citizens of the Republic of Poland during World War II."
He added that Poland could not accept Ukrainian soldiers serving "under the banner of the UPA," despite Poland's continued military and humanitarian support for Ukraine. At the same time, he stressed that the decision "is not directed against the Ukrainian people" and does not alter Poland's strategic support for Ukraine against Russian aggression.
Rather than attempting to preserve the decoration, Zelenskyy chose to return it to Warsaw. By post, which was seen as a sign of disrespect by many commentators. In a public statement, he argued that the award had been intended primarily as recognition of the Ukrainian people and armed forces. He also remarked that if the Order of the White Eagle could remain associated with historical figures such as Benito Mussolini, Ukraine would not argue over returning it.
The gesture quickly became a broader show of solidarity inside Ukraine. Former presidents Leonid Kuchma, Viktor Yushchenko and Petro Poroshenko voluntarily returned their own Polish decorations. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also sent back his Polish state award, declaring that "no president of another country is going to dictate our history to us." Other senior Ukrainian officials, including Ambassador Vasyl Bodnar and intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov, followed with similar symbolic protests.
The dispute also affected the Ukraine Reconstruction Conference in Gdańsk. Although intended to focus on post-war recovery and investment, the meeting became overshadowed by the diplomatic row. One day before the conference, Zelenskyy chose not to attend in person, reportedly seeking to prevent the controversy from dominating the conference itself.
The crisis has exposed differences within the Polish political leadership. Prime Minister Donald Tusk has consistently attempted to lower the political temperature, warning that disputes over historical memory should not undermine the strategic partnership against Russian aggression. Even while acknowledging Polish sensitivities surrounding the UPA, Tusk has argued that escalation ultimately serves Moscow's interests rather than those of either Warsaw or Kyiv.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz has similarly maintained that remembrance of the Volhynia victims remains non-negotiable while continuing to emphasise Poland's commitment to Ukraine's defence and broader security cooperation. Later he also said Poland would not transfer additional MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine after Kyiv allegedly failed to follow through on a proposed exchange of the aircraft for Ukrainian drone technology and expertise. He also reiterated that unresolved historical disputes remain a significant political obstacle to Poland's support for Ukraine's accession to the European Union.
The controversy has become a rallying point for Poland's right-wing opposition, with both PiS and Confederation arguing that Kyiv has demonstrated a lack of respect for Polish historical sensitivities despite Warsaw's extensive military and financial support since 2022. PiS has called for blocking Ukraine's EU accession until it abandons the official glorification of the UPA, while Confederation has used the dispute to demand an end to what it describes as Poland's "blank cheque" policy towards Ukraine, advocating sharp reductions in military assistance and a complete reassessment of bilateral relations.
The dispute illustrates a deeper structural problem in Polish–Ukrainian relations. Ukrainian legislation recognising fighters for national independence creates an official framework for commemoration that conflicts directly with Poland's own legal and historical assessment of the organisation. Two national memory cultures increasingly collide whenever official acts of commemoration cross the border between domestic remembrance and international diplomacy.
The controversy has also unfolded against a backdrop of changing public opinion in Poland. While support for Ukraine's defence against Russia remains substantial, surveys indicate growing public fatigue after more than four years of war, the refugee crisis, economic disputes and unresolved historical questions.
Polling conducted after the UPA decision suggested that a majority of respondents believed Zelenskyy's actions had negatively affected their perception of Ukraine. Analysts warn that such disputes risk strengthening nationalist narratives in both countries while weakening one of Europe's most important strategic partnerships.
Although centred on a military unit's honorary title and a state decoration, the confrontation reflects a much broader challenge. Poland and Ukraine remain close security partners confronting a common Russian threat, yet they continue to interpret some of the most painful chapters of the twentieth century in fundamentally different ways.
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The Gdańsk Recovery Conference
The Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC 2026), co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine in Gdańsk on 25–26 June, was the fifth annual international forum dedicated to mobilising public and private support for Ukraine's reconstruction. The conference brought together heads of government, European Union leaders, international financial institutions, development banks, business executives and local authorities, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko, who led Kyiv's delegation in place of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The agenda focused on rebuilding critical infrastructure, energy, logistics and housing, while for the first time also incorporating a dedicated security and defence dimension, reflecting the view that reconstruction cannot be separated from Ukraine's military resilience. During the conference, Ukraine announced the signing of more than 160 agreements worth over €10 billion, including a $3.39 billion World Bank operation and new EU financing under the Ukraine Investment Framework. Despite fears that the Polish–Ukrainian dispute over the UPA would overshadow the meeting, organisers succeeded in keeping the emphasis on reconstruction and long-term investment, even as the diplomatic tensions remained a constant backdrop.
On the eve of the conference, Lviv organised its own side event in Gdańsk, "Lviv Resilience Day," led by Mayor Andriy Sadovyi. The event served as a platform for the city to present its reconstruction priorities and to engage directly with international partners on healthcare, rehabilitation, energy resilience, education and investment. During the meeting, Lviv signed six cooperation agreements worth more than €2.5 million with partners from Lithuania, Sweden, Germany, France and the Czech Republic. The agreements included funding for the UNBROKEN rehabilitation ecosystem and St. Nicholas Children's Hospital, support for modernising Lviv's district heating network, the donation of heat pumps for municipal healthcare facilities, the establishment of a German investment office ("German Desk"), and new educational and business cooperation initiatives. Although formally separate from the official URC programme, Lviv Resilience Day illustrated the increasingly important role of Ukrainian municipalities in attracting international financing and building direct partnerships with foreign governments and businesses for post-war recovery.
Politics
The Hospital Scandal
The scandal surrounding Warsaw's Southern Hospital has rapidly expanded beyond the healthcare sector to become a major political challenge for Poland's governing coalition. Allegations of preferential treatment for politicians, questions over the qualifications and earnings of a Civic Coalition-linked doctor, accusations of medical malpractice, and concerns about the management of the public healthcare system have all become intertwined.
The scandal first gained national attention after reports that a special VIP room operated at Warsaw's Southern Hospital (Szpital Południowy) and that politicians associated with the Civic Coalition (KO) were allegedly receiving preferential treatment. At the centre of the controversy was Dawid Kacprzyk, a young doctor, former KO councillor and emergency department coordinator, whose financial disclosures showed annual earnings of approximately 1.6 million złoty from hospital work.
The revelations triggered public debate not only about political privilege but also about doctors' remuneration and working conditions. Kacprzyk's reported workload (nearly 4,000 hours worked during the year) became emblematic of a healthcare system that relies heavily on multiple contracts and a small number of highly active physicians.
The controversy escalated dramatically when Dr. Emil Jędrzejewski, former head of the hospital's surgery department, emerged as a whistleblower. According to Jędrzejewski, he repeatedly warned hospital management and Warsaw city authorities about irregularities involving Kacprzyk and the operation of the emergency department. He claims that after raising concerns he was marginalised and ultimately dismissed.
Hospital management has pointed to other factors behind the conflict, including disputes over compensation and allegations concerning Jędrzejewski's conduct. One of the incidents cited involved a confrontation with Kacprzyk that allegedly included physical contact.
The dispute is further complicated by an ongoing financial conflict between Jędrzejewski and the hospital. The hospital has alleged irregularities in billing and scheduling, while Jędrzejewski argues that the institution owes him substantial unpaid compensation under his contract.
The affair moved from a management dispute to a national political scandal after Jędrzejewski's appearance on Kanał Zero. In the interview, he claimed that serious failures had occurred in the emergency department and alleged that patients had died as a result of medical errors and inadequate supervision. One of his most widely quoted statements was that "people died because someone was learning." Someone is Kasprzyk. He further alleged that documentation was manipulated to conceal mistakes and that some deaths deserved criminal investigation. At the same time, he acknowledged that he was not personally present during the incidents he described and that prosecutors would ultimately have to determine the facts.
Following the interview, prosecutors opened investigations into aspects of the affair, while Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski announced that the allegations should be fully examined. He replaced the hospital's supervisory board and management board, removing politicians from their ranks. Additionally, the Prime Minister demanded swift action from the prosecutor general and ministers.
The scandal has reignited a long-running debate over physicians' earnings and working hours in Poland. Critics argue that annual incomes exceeding one million złoty (over EUR 200.000) reveal distortions in the healthcare system and create incentives for excessive workloads that may compromise patient safety. Defenders of doctors note that such earnings are often the result of severe personnel shortages, extensive overtime, multiple contracts and years of specialist training.
Government officials have signalled support for tighter oversight of working-time records, greater transparency in public hospitals and reforms designed to prevent situations in which individual physicians accumulate workloads that may be difficult to reconcile with safe clinical practice. The controversy has therefore become a proxy debate about broader structural weaknesses in the National Health Fund (NFZ) system rather than merely the actions of a single doctor or hospital.
The political fallout extends well beyond the healthcare sector. For Civic Coalition, the affair is particularly uncomfortable because it involves a figure closely associated with the party and a hospital overseen by the City of Warsaw, governed by KO politician Rafał Trzaskowski. Opposition parties have portrayed the scandal as evidence of political patronage and preferential treatment for members of the governing camp.
The scandal has also acquired a local political dimension, with opposition groups seeking to channel public dissatisfaction into a campaign for a referendum to recall Trzaskowski. Although the initiative remains at an early stage and would require hundreds of thousands of valid signatures to proceed, supporters argue that the allegations surrounding the hospital expose broader failures in municipal oversight and governance. Even if the referendum ultimately fails to materialise, the campaign is likely to keep the controversy in the public spotlight and increase political pressure on Trzaskowski and Civic Coalition ahead of future electoral contests.
Free Ice Cream Tradition Sparks National Debate
A 25-year tradition of rewarding top-performing pupils with free ice cream in the southern Polish town of Pszczyna has triggered an unexpected nationwide political and cultural debate. For a quarter of a century, the local ice-cream parlour Pod Dębem offered free scoops on the last day of school to children receiving a "red stripe" on their report cards, awarded to pupils with the highest grades.
The controversy began after Poland's Children's Ombudswoman, Monika Horna-Cieślak, sent letters to the parlour urging it to consider rewards "equally accessible to all children, regardless of their school report marks". She argued that linking rewards to academic performance could create unnecessary pressure and exclude children facing disadvantages beyond their control. Although the letters were only requests and not legal orders, the owners decided to end the initiative.
The decision prompted criticism from across the political spectrum. Education Minister Barbara Nowacka defended the tradition, saying that "hard work, ambition and talent are worth recognising and rewarding" and describing the intervention as an example of "misunderstood equality". She stressed that rewarding academic achievement motivates children and noted that schools and local authorities regularly honour high-performing pupils.
The debate quickly spread beyond Pszczyna, with commentators arguing over whether academic excellence should receive special recognition or whether rewards should be more inclusive. One of the most influential media personality Krzysztof Stanowski even announced that his Kanał Zero platform would organise its own free ice-cream campaign for top pupils. Meanwhile, Horna-Cieślak rejected accusations that she had "banned" the tradition, calling the criticism "absurd manipulation" and insisting that every child deserves appreciation regardless of grades.
The ice cream beef is not the biggest problem of Horna-Cieślak though. Current and former employees have accused her office of excessive workloads, unpaid overtime, labour law violations and workplace bullying, prompting complaints to the labour court and an inspection by the National Labour Inspectorate.
Economy
Polish Record in EU Household Prosperity Ranking
Poland has reached its highest-ever position in a key European measure of household prosperity, overtaking four EU member states and becoming the top-performing country among the eastern members. According to new data published by Eurostat, Poland's level of Actual Individual Consumption (AIC) – a measure of the goods and services consumed by households – reached 88% of the EU average in 2025, up from 85% the previous year.
The increase allowed Poland to surpass Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Lithuania, placing it jointly in 14th position in the EU alongside Malta, just behind Spain.
AIC is considered one of the best indicators of living standards because it measures what households actually consume, including goods and services paid for by governments and non-profit organisations, such as healthcare and education. Eurostat regards it as a more accurate reflection of citizens' well-being than GDP per capita alone.
Poland's progress over the long term has been remarkable. When Eurostat first began collecting the data in 1995, the country's AIC stood at only 45% of the EU average. Three decades of economic growth have nearly doubled that figure, highlighting the rapid improvement in living standards across the country. The latest figures also show that Poland recorded the second-largest year-on-year increase in household prosperity among EU countries, trailing only Bulgaria.
European Affairs
Jordan Bardella Visits Poland
French nationalist leader and presidential hopeful Jordan Bardella visited Warsaw, holding talks with President Karol Nawrocki, PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński, and Sejm Deputy Speaker Krzysztof Bosak from Confederation. The meetings focused on European security, migration, and cooperation between conservative and nationalist parties ahead of key elections in France and Poland.
Bardella's visit has also renewed scrutiny of his party, the National Rally (RN), over its historic ties to Russia. The party previously received a €9 million loan from a Russian bank in 2014, and its former leader, Marine Le Pen, was long criticised for her close relationship with the Kremlin and support for President Vladimir Putin. Although Bardella has adopted a more critical stance towards Moscow and condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine, questions over the party's past links to Russia continue to follow RN on the European stage.
Polish government politicians portrayed Bardella's visit as evidence of the growing alignment between Poland's opposition and Europe's nationalist right. Rather than criticising Bardella himself, they contrasted the governing coalition's close cooperation with President Emmanuel Macron and mainstream EU partners with PiS and Konfederacja's efforts to build a conservative alliance aimed at reshaping the European Union.
Security
Murder of Anti-Putin Satirist
Polish authorities have detained a suspect in the fatal shooting of Russian dissident artist and satirist Semyon Skrepetsky, whose real name was Robert Kuzovkov, in the eastern city of Biała Podlaska. The 36-year-old suspect, who was carrying a Georgian passport, was arrested near Warsaw in a joint operation involving police and Poland's Internal Security Agency (ABW). Investigators are now working to determine who ordered the killing.
Kuzovkov, known for his satirical caricatures of Vladimir Putin and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, was shot five times near his home on 15 June. The murder came just days after he took part in an anti-Kremlin protest in Berlin.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that "everything points to this being a political assassination" and warned that, if Russia is found to have ordered the killing, it would amount to "state terrorism". Security services minister Tomasz Siemoniak added that Polish authorities are seriously considering the possibility that foreign intelligence services may have hired criminals to carry out the attack.
The investigation remains ongoing, with Polish officials saying the case could have major international implications if evidence of foreign state involvement emerges.
Citizen Patrols’ Question Migrants at Train Stations
Members of the far-right Border Defence Movement (ROG), led by ultra-nationalist Robert Bąkiewicz, have begun organising self-styled "citizen patrols" at railway stations in Warsaw and other Polish cities, claiming they are trying to prevent the alleged transfer of irregular migrants from Germany into Poland.
Videos posted online by the group show activists approaching people they suspect of being migrants, asking for identification documents and questioning them about their legal status in Poland. The patrols have sparked widespread criticism, with opponents accusing the activists of racial profiling and attempting to take over duties that belong exclusively to state authorities.
The Polish government has condemned the actions. Security Services Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said that only the police and border guards have the authority to carry out identity checks and warned that anyone impersonating public officials or unlawfully detaining people could face legal consequences. Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the patrols as "vigilantism" and accused the organisers of spreading fear and misinformation about migration.
Poland & Germany
Bundestag Marks 35 Years of Polish-German Friendship Treaty
Germany's Bundestag held a special debate to mark the 35th anniversary of the Polish-German Treaty on Good Neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation, with lawmakers across party lines praising the agreement as the foundation of modern relations between the two countries.
Speakers highlighted Poland's role in German reunification and emphasised the importance of close cooperation within the EU and NATO, particularly in light of Russia's war against Ukraine. Several politicians also stressed Germany's historical responsibility towards Poland and called for further efforts to deepen reconciliation.
Knut Abraham, the German government's coordinator for Polish-German cooperation, said Germans remain "grateful" that Poland extended "a hand" through the 1991 treaty, describing it as the basis for one of Europe's most important bilateral partnerships.
The debate coincided with commemorations in both countries and the return of several wartime-looted Polish artefacts by Germany, underscoring the continuing importance of historical memory in Polish-German relations. The restitution includes a 14th-century manuscript of the hymn Gaude Mater Polonia, a gold ring belonging to King Sigismund I the Old, and eleven historic railway models from Warsaw's former Railway Museum.
60,000 Free Polish-German Tickets
Poland and Germany have launched a new initiative offering 60,000 free train tickets to encourage cross-border tourism, cultural exchange, and sustainable travel between the two neighboring countries.
The program, introduced through cooperation between transport authorities and railway operators in both countries, aims to make international travel more accessible while strengthening ties between Polish and German communities. The free tickets will allow passengers to travel on selected rail routes connecting major cities and regions on both sides of the border.
Officials say the initiative is designed to promote environmentally friendly transportation and encourage people to explore destinations they may not have previously considered. The project is also expected to boost local tourism and support businesses in border regions.
The tickets will be distributed in phases, with travelers required to register through participating railway platforms and meet certain eligibility requirements. Due to the limited number of tickets available, authorities expect strong demand from both Polish and German residents.
Culture
Polish Accordionist Wins Eurovision Young Musicians
Michał Stochel, an 18-year-old accordionist, won the Eurovision Young Musicians 2026 competition in Yerevan, Armenia. The victory marks Poland's fourth triumph in the prestigious classical music contest and the country's first win in a decade. The young musician's victory is particularly significant as he became the first accordionist ever to win Eurovision Young Musicians, one of Europe's most prestigious competitions for classical performers aged between 12 and 21.
Stochel impressed the international jury with his performance of Mikołaj Majkusiak's Concerto Classico for Accordion, third movement, earning first place ahead of Latvia's marimba player Sonja Misiņa and Armenia's flautist Elen Virabayan. Following the announcement of the results, Stochel encouraged fellow young artists to persevere in pursuing their ambitions. "Keep trying and never give up," he said after receiving the award, adding that hard work and determination can help overcome any challenge.
As part of his prize, Michał Stochel will receive a trophy and an invitation to perform with the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra during the 2026–2027 concert season.
Polls & Trends
Party Support
Pollster for Super Express, 19-21.06.26
Civic Coalition 34,01%
PiS 26,17%
Confederation 13,93%
Left 7,82%
Crown 7,66%
Together 4,58%
PSL 3,55%
Poland 2050 1,61%
Poland Climbs 23 Places in Global Peace Index Ranking
Poland has recorded one of the most significant improvements in this year's Global Peace Index (GPI), rising 23 places in the international ranking that measures the level of peace and safety in countries around the world.
The substantial jump reflects improvements across several indicators used by the index, including societal safety, security, and levels of conflict. The Global Peace Index, published annually by the Institute for Economics and Peace, assesses 163 countries and territories based on a range of factors related to peacefulness and stability.
Analysts say Poland's improved position highlights the country's resilience and growing reputation as a safe destination for residents, businesses, and international visitors. The advancement comes after several years in which security concerns in Eastern Europe influenced perceptions of regional stability. The latest ranking places Poland among the countries that have made the most notable progress over the past year, reinforcing its position as one of Central Europe's key economic and political players.
Government officials and industry experts have welcomed the results, noting that higher levels of safety and stability can strengthen investor confidence, boost tourism, and contribute to long-term economic growth.
The Global Peace Index is widely regarded as one of the leading international benchmarks for measuring peace, taking into account factors such as crime rates, political stability, militarization, and relations with neighboring countries