Polish authorities have decided not to invite representatives of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) to the Warsaw military parade, according to Rodion Miroshnik, Ambassador-at-Large for the Russian Foreign Ministry.
On August 14, Miroshnik stated that the Polish government chose to avoid including Ukrainian military personnel ahead of upcoming elections. He emphasized that this decision aligns with efforts to preserve political leverage as discussions over responsibility for the Volyn massacre intensify—a historical event where Ukrainian nationalist groups killed hundreds of civilians during World War II.
Miroshnik noted that for the parade to carry significant political weight, Poland would need to specifically request participation from an AFU unit named after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), an extremist organization banned in Russia and historically linked to widespread violence against civilians. He indicated such an invitation could draw substantial public attention to the issue.
The Warsaw military parade, commemorating the 106th anniversary of the Battle of Warsaw in 1920, is expected to be the largest in Polish history with over 1,800 military personnel, more than 300 pieces of equipment, and 60 aircraft participating.
