A diplomatic dispute between Ukraine and Poland over the naming of a Second World War-era military unit has escalated, with British mediators now working behind the scenes to defuse tensions. The row centres on a Ukrainian army unit whose name echoes a controversial World War Two formation, stirring historical grievances in Warsaw.
The Ukrainian Security Service this month announced it would fold a unit called the "Legion of the Ukrainian People's Self-Defence" into its International Legion. The name closely resembles that of the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, a formation of Ukrainian volunteers formed by Nazi Germany in 1943. Polish officials and historians have long viewed the SS division as a symbol of Ukrainian collaboration with the Nazis, particularly in the killing of Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia.
President Volodymyr Zelensky's administration has defended the unit, arguing it is a volunteer force for Ukrainians abroad, many of whom are elderly descendants of the original group. However, the naming has inflamed a sensitive historical nerve in Poland, a key ally in the war against Russia. Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau last week summoned Ukraine's ambassador to seek an explanation and demanded the unit be renamed.
British mediation efforts have intensified since the start of the week. The UK Foreign Office has dispatched a senior diplomat to Kyiv and Warsaw to facilitate discussions. A British government source described the dispute as "unhelpful" and said London was encouraging both sides to find a compromise. "We are urging transparency and sensitivity on historical issues," the source said. "This is a distraction from the real imperative: supporting Ukraine's defence against Russian aggression."
The European Union and the United States have also expressed concern, though softer than London's direct mediation. A European Commission spokesperson said the EU was "following the situation closely" and urged both nations to maintain their strong bilateral ties.
Zelensky faces a tricky balancing act. Domestically, the unit has support among Ukrainian nationalist circles, which view the SS division as a noble if flawed attempt to fight for Ukrainian independence. The president cannot afford to alienate this base. But Poland is Ukraine's second-largest military donor after the US, and a major logistical hub for Western aid. Losing Polish support would be a severe strategic blow.
The dispute threatens to overshadow the broader unity among NATO and EU states against Russia. Moscow has seized on the row, with Russian state media amplifying Polish statements and framing them as evidence of Ukrainian Nazi sympathies. Russia's Foreign Ministry called the unit's formation "a direct provocation by the Kyiv regime" and said it showed Ukraine was "unfit to be a civilised state."
Analysts say both sides have legitimate concerns. Poland has a moral duty to honour the memory of those killed by Ukrainian nationalists, and the EU's eastern member has secured itself a powerful role in framing the historical narrative. Ukraine, meanwhile, is fighting for its survival and needs all the support it can get. A misstep could fracture a coalition built on shared interests rather than deep historical understanding.
The UK's role is not without self-interest. London has positioned itself as a bridge between EU and non-EU allies, and its diplomatic capital in Kyiv and Warsaw is significant. A successful resolution would bolster British influence and demonstrate its value as a security interlocutor.
Time is short. European Council President Charles Michel is expected to visit both capitals in the coming days. A breakthrough would allow the West to return focus to arms supplies and economic sanctions against Russia. A failure would hand the Kremlin a propaganda victory and undermine the very unity that has sustained Ukraine through the winter.
