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Polish president strips Zelensky of honorary title over military unit controversy, as Kyiv calls decision 'strategic mistake'

Editor's note: This article has been updated with additional details and comments from officials. Polish President Karol Nawrocki stripped President Volodymyr Zelensky of the country's honorary Order of the White Eagle title on June 19 following public outcry over Zelensky's decision to name a serving Ukrainian military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). A World War II-era organization that fought for Ukraine's independence, the UPA is remembered in Poland primarily for its role in

How Russia bought influence over culture in the West

At 7 p.m. on Saturday, my phone lit up with a message from a colleague in Kyiv. It read: "The Lavra is bombed. It's on fire." The Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, founded in 1051, is the most important religious and cultural site in Eastern Europe. For nearly a thousand years, it has survived invasions, occupations, revolutions, and wars. And today, it joins a growing list of Ukrainian cultural landmarks damaged by Russian missiles. According to Ukraine's Culture Ministry, this list has grown to 1,783 cul

About Cossacks

Cossacks were semi-nomadic military groups that emerged in the 15th century across the steppes of what is now Ukraine. The Cossack Hetmanate existed as an independent state from 1648 to 1764, before Russian imperial authorities abolished Cossack autonomy and suppressed their cultural identity. Modern Ukraine recognizes Cossack heritage as a foundational element of national identity and resistance against foreign domination.

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