Volhynia Returns to Sejm: Czarnek Announces Motion

8 June 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

The Volhynia resolution returns to the Sejm as PiS seeks formal condemnation of OUN-UPA and calls for full exhumations and cooperation.

The Volhynia resolution returns to the Sejm after Education Minister Przemysław Czarnek announced a new parliamentary motion. He said the PiS club will demand processing at the next Sejm session.

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Volhynia resolution and what triggered it

Czarnek framed the move as a reaction to President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision. Consequently, Poland must respond to what its politicians call the glorification of Bandera-era nationalism. Moreover, Czarnek warned that Poland cannot stay passive in the face of such decisions. He argued Poland must act for the victims and for future Polish-Ukrainian relations.

What the draft resolution asks for

The proposed resolution would explicitly condemn the actions of OUN-UPA and label them genocide. In addition, MPs would urge Ukraine to cooperate fully in searches, identifications, and exhumations. The text would honour Polish citizens of the Second Republic who died in 1943–1945. Therefore, lawmakers say public memory and truth must underpin any lasting reconciliation.

Political stakes and legal follow-up

PiS also wants to revive a 2024 draft law against promoting Bandera ideology. However, critics say such laws risk chilling historical debate. Furthermore, the project would introduce a legal concept called the “Volhynia lie”. It would criminalise public denial or justification of crimes by OUN-UPA. Consequently, the debate could affect Poland’s courts and free speech standards.

Order of the White Eagle controversy

Meanwhile, Czarnek supported the idea of stripping Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle. In addition, the Order chapter has convened to discuss the issue. Historically, authorities removed that decoration only once in more than 300 years, after a final court judgment. Thus, the move would carry symbolic weight.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: Poland treats historical memory as state policy, and debates over events like Volhynia shape public life. For expats, note that Polish institutions operate differently. For example, ZUS means the social insurance institution (ZUS, akin to a pension agency), NFZ covers public health insurance (NFZ, the health fund), PESEL serves as a national ID number (PESEL, similar to a social security number), and a “mandat” is a on-the-spot fine often issued for traffic or public-order breaches. Stay aware when discussing sensitive history in public settings, and follow official news for legal changes.

Poland’s Sejm will decide whether to prioritise the draft at its next session. Consequently, the motion could push bilateral sensitivities into formal parliamentary politics. Moreover, any law or resolution will influence Polish civil society and academic debate. Therefore, foreigners living here should watch developments closely.

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