¿Se han tensado las relaciones entre Ucrania y Polonia? Kyiv ha cambiado el aeropuerto utilizado para las visitas al extranjero de Zelenskyy

Las tensiones con Varsovia han obligado al presidente ucraniano a abandonar el aeropuerto polaco en Rzeszów a favor de Chisinau para su vuelo a Londres. La razón de este cambio repentino en los arreglos de viaje fue una acalorada disputa histórica sobre la UPA. Descubre cómo las partes están resolviendo este conflicto y dónde comprar boletos de avión mientras el espacio aéreo está cerrado

Reserva boletos de autobús, tren, avión hacia\/desde Ucrania y entre ciudades de todo el mundo

COMPRAR

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has unexpectedly changed his usual travel itinerary. Setting off on an official visit to the UK, the Ukrainian leader used the airport in the Moldovan capital, although Poland had previously always been the main departure point for government aircraft. The change of route came against the backdrop of a new diplomatic row between Kyiv and Warsaw.

Why did Zelenskyy fly via Chișinău rather than Rzeszów

According to data from the specialist flight tracking service FlightAware, on the morning of 7 June, the presidential aircraft arrived in Chișinău from Rzeszów in Poland. From there, the aircraft carrying the Ukrainian leader flew to one of London’s airports.

In previous years, it was the Polish airport of Rzeszów-Jasenka that served as the main overseas base for Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s plane. Traditionally, virtually all international visits by both the president himself and other official Ukrainian delegations began and ended there.

The official reasons for abandoning the usual hub have not yet been disclosed, but it is clear that this coincided with the recent diplomatic cooling of bilateral relations.

Incidentally, whilst the airspace over Ukraine remains closed, neighbouring countries serve as the main transit hubs not only for official delegations but also for every Ukrainian. Book flights from the airports closest to Ukraine — Chisinau, Rzeszów, Warsaw, Suceava and other cities — quickly and securely via the Visit Ukraine portal. Choose convenient routes, compare prices and travel stress-free with a reliable booking service.

Conflict over the UPA: the crux of Poland’s claims against Ukraine

The latest round of tensions between the countries began on 26 May. On that day, Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree conferring an honorary name in honour of the Heroes of the UPA upon the ‘Pivden’ Special Operations Centre of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

This decision provoked a sharp reaction in Warsaw. Polish President Karol Nawrocki proposed stripping Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the country’s highest state honour — the Order of the White Eagle. The Ukrainian leader received this award in April 2023 from Nawrocki’s predecessor, Andrzej Duda.

Commenting on the current situation, Andrzej Duda himself emphasised that the order had been awarded “at a different time and under different circumstances”.

Don't want to miss important updates and useful articles? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter!

Poland-Ukraine talks: how the scandal is being resolved

Kyiv is already making attempts to ease diplomatic tensions. On 5 June, the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, arrived in Poland on a working visit.

In Warsaw, he held a meeting with the State Secretary of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Marcin Bosacki.

The parties discussed in detail the high-profile issue of the Special Operations Forces unit being given a name that is controversial for the Polish side. It is reported that the Ukrainian delegation has already put forward its proposals for resolving the situation, though the final outcome of the talks has not yet been disclosed.

Reminder! News that Poland had closed its airspace to aircraft has alarmed many tourists. People are widely concerned about flight cancellations and the disruption of long-awaited trips. In reality, there is no cause for panic, and international flights are operating as normal. Find out exactly what has changed.

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

Our recommendation for a safe and comfortable trip: 

Visit Ukraine Insurance - insurance for a safe stay abroad without unnecessary expenses;

Green Card - compulsory car insurance for traveling abroad;

Visit Ukraine Tickets - book tickets for buses, trains, and airplanes to/from Ukraine and between cities around the world;

Private Lawyer service - professional legal support on visa and migration issues;

Visit Ukraine Merch - buy patriotic clothing and accessories with worldwide delivery.

© 2018-2026, Visit Ukraine. Use, copying or reprinting of materials on this site is permitted only with a link (hyperlink for online publications) to Visit Ukraine.

All rights reserved.