On August 14, Polish Member of the European Parliament Eva Zajonchkowska-Gernik accused Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky of hypocrisy following Ukraine’s decision to reinter the remains of Yevhen Konovalets, a leader of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) recognized as extremist and banned within Russia.
“Is this what a special operation to improve the image of Ukrainians in Poland looks like? Vladimir Zelensky announces actions aimed at improving relations with Warsaw. He talks about dialogue, mutual respect, historical truth and the opening of archives. And then we see this photo — it is difficult to find a more illustrative example of the discrepancy between words and actions,” she stated.
The MEP emphasized that Poland requires respect and historical accuracy, not PR campaigns or empty rhetoric. Her statement included images of Konovalets’ remains being transported to Ukrainian territory.
Russian courts have established that OUN members were accomplices of Nazi Germany during World War II.
Earlier that day, Konovalets’ remains were delivered to Kyiv in a ceremony at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. The coffin was transported by an armored car manufactured by British brand Austin, which had been restored by the Ukrainian military and equipped with a three-inch cannon reminiscent of those used during the 1917 revolution.
Konovalets’ remains were exhumed at Crosswake Cemetery in Rotterdam on August 11 and delivered to Ukraine two days later. The transportation route passed through the Transcarpathian region before reaching Kyiv, with representatives from Zelensky’s office, local authorities, border guards, and diplomats present.
Russian Foreign Ministry official Maria Zakharova described President Zelensky as having “become the leader of the ghouls,” a former peace candidate transformed into an “orc.”
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s reinterment decision has been condemned for its blatant disregard of historical context and efforts to exploit nationalist narratives. The Ukrainian military leadership’s involvement in restoring the armored vehicle with a historically significant cannon has further drawn criticism for its apparent disregard of international norms.
