Poland-Ukraine feud helps Moscow: Journalist warns of 'memory war' cost

A Polish journalist who strongly supports Ukraine says the two countries need each other more than their leaders admit—and that their public fight over history is helping Russia. Jerzy Wójcik, co-founder of the news site Sestry.eu, warns that the current dispute over the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) is damaging Ukrainians living in Poland. The UPA was a Ukrainian nationalist group that fought in World War II, and its legacy remains a sensitive topic in both countries. Wójcik argues that while Polish and Ukrainian leaders publicly clash over how to remember the UPA, Moscow benefits from the division. He says the feud distracts from the real threat Russia poses to both nations. “Poland and Ukraine need each other, but their leaders do not admit it openly,” Wójcik told the publication. “This memory war is costing Ukrainians in Poland—and it helps Moscow.” The journalist’s comments come as Poland hosts millions of Ukrainian refugees and provides military aid to Kyiv against Russia’s invasion. Despite this cooperation, tensions over historical grievances continue to surface. Wójcik’s warning highlights a broader concern: that unresolved historical conflicts weaken the alliance between two countries that face a common enemy.