Poland's Institute of National Remembrance says honoring Shukhevych is a blow to the memory of genocide victims
Institute of National RemembrancePolish state institute for history and remembrance, in a post on its English-language X account
The Institute of National Remembrance says that by honoring Shukhevych, the Lviv council strikes at the memory of the victims of the genocide it says was carried out on his orders.
“Honouring this criminal must be regarded as a blow to the memory of the victims of the genocide carried out on his orders.”
Original post
Where this statement fits
Lviv Oblast Council declares 2027 a year of the UPA and Shukhevych; Poland calls it unacceptable and Ukraine's Foreign Ministry calls it counterproductive
On October 20, 2026, the Lviv Oblast Council in western Ukraine adopted resolutions declaring 2027 in the region a year of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), of its commander Roman Shukhevych and of Oleh Olzhych, a leader of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists. Polish officials hold the UPA responsible for the Volhynia massacres of Poles during World War II. Poland's defense minister called the decision unacceptable, Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski moved to bar Sviatoslav Sheremeta, the councillor who proposed it, and Poland's interior minister then banned him from the Schengen Area until 2031. Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the decision counterproductive and said the councillors had not consulted it. Sheremeta said the decision was not directed against Poland and that Ukrainians decide who their heroes are.
Source and context
Original post
About this source
Long post on X by the English-language account of Poland's Institute of National Remembrance about the Lviv Oblast Council's decision to designate 2027 the year of Roman Shukhevych, the UPA and Oleh Olzhych. It sets out the institute's account of Shukhevych's role in the UPA, in German-backed units and in crimes against Poles and others during World War II.
Before the quotation
The institute says the decision taken on October 20, 2026, by the Lviv Regional Council is part of a long-standing process of establishing an official cult of Shukhevych and other proponents of radical Ukrainian nationalism.
After the quotation
It says it is also surprising that Oleh Olzhych was named a patron of 2027, because he headed an organization whose leadership condemned the crimes committed by Bandera's followers.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The case concerns the Lviv Oblast Council's October 20, 2026, decision to declare 2027 in the region a year of the UPA, of Roman Shukhevych and of Oleh Olzhych. The institute calls Shukhevych a criminal and says honoring him is a blow to the memory of the victims, which condemns the decision.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Lviv Oblast Council
More from this case
Read the full caseUkraine's Foreign Ministry calls the Lviv council's decision counterproductive to efforts to improve relations with Poland
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
“counterproductive to our ongoing efforts aimed at further developing Ukrainian-Polish relations and resolving outstanding issues amid Russia's full-scale aggression and unprecedented security threats to our two countries and the region as a whole”Read statement
Sheremeta says the Lviv council's decision was not aimed at Poland but at honoring fighters for Ukraine's independence
“The Lviv Oblast Council's decision was not directed against anyone, and certainly not against Poles or Poland, as Polish politicians interpret it. It is aimed at honoring with dignity the memory of the fighters for the freedom and independence of Ukraine. (Translated from Ukrainian. Original: Рішення Львівської облради не було спрямоване проти когось і тим більше проти поляків чи Польщі, як це трактують польські політики. Воно спрямоване на те, щоб гідно вшанувати пам'ять борців за волю і незалежність України.)”Read statement
Sikorski says he signed a motion to put Sheremeta on Poland's list of undesirable persons over the year of Shukhevych
“I have signed a motion to enter Lviv Oblast councillor S. Sheremeta, a Galizien Waffen-SS reenactor and the author of the idea of making 2027 the year of R. Shukhevych, the UPA commander who issued orders to expel and murder Poles, on the list of persons undesirable in the Republic of Poland. (Translated from Polish. Original: Podpisałem wniosek o wpisanie na listę osób niepożądanych w RP radnego obwodu lwowskiego S. Szeremeta, rekonstruktora Galizien Waffen-SS, autora pomysłu ustanowienia 2027 rokiem R.Szuchewycza, dowódcy UPA, który wydawał rozkazy wysiedlania i mordowania Polaków.)”Read statement
Share or embed this statement
The embed keeps its attribution link to The Dispute Index. Credit the image to The Dispute Index and link to the statement page.
Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Poland's Institute of National Remembrance says honoring Shukhevych is a blow to the memory of genocide victims
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/events/7454-the-institute-of-national-remembrance-says-that-by
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "Poland's Institute of National Remembrance says honoring Shukhevych is a blow to the memory of genocide victims". First published: 2026-10-31. Last updated: 2026-10-31. https://disputeindex.com/events/7454-the-institute-of-national-remembrance-says-that-by