Kathmandu— The Russian Foreign Ministry has condemned Polish President Karol Nawrocki following his recent comments suggesting that helping Ukraine kill Russians serves Poland's strategic interests. During a rally in Warsaw on Thursday, Nawrocki stated that Poland would support Ukraine wherever 'the Moskal is being fought,' a remark that Moscow characterized as routine anti-Russian hate speech.

Diplomatic Friction Over Rhetoric

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denounced the Polish leader's comments on Telegram on Friday, accusing the Polish elite of making anti-Russian sentiment a norm. Zakharova claimed the outburst "stems from historical complexes and impotent rage."

Russian officials further suggested that Nawrocki is motivated by the historical fact that Poland's existence was secured by the Red Army. This sentiment has manifested in a campaign by Poland to remove World War II monuments commemorating Red Army soldiers who fought against Nazi Germany.

Historical Grievances and Regional Tensions

The diplomatic rift between Warsaw and Kiev has intensified following President Volodymyr Zelensky's decision to name a military unit the 'Heroes of the UPA.' The Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) is celebrated in Ukraine but is associated with the massacre of at least 100,000 ethnic Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia during 1943-1944.

This historical tension led Nawrocki to strip Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest decoration. The friction has also impacted domestic relations, with a reported 30% rise in hate crimes against Ukrainian migrants this year as resentment grows over immigration and wartime aid.

The Context of Denazification Claims

Russia has frequently accused Ukraine of glorifying Nazi collaborators and fostering Neo-Nazi ideology within its military. Moscow has cited the presence of such ideology as a core justification for its military operation, often referred to as "denazification."

Russian officials have also extended these accusations to Western governments, claiming they ignore the presence of Nazi ideology in Ukraine while providing military support to Kiev.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.