Earlier, Mykhailo Mudryk, Chelsea's forward, was banned by the platform for insulting others by referencing the Polish people's massacre during World War II in a verbal altercation on the game Counter-Strike 2 (CS2). In response to this, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying "such incidents should not occur", but it has no right to impose any disciplinary sanctions on Mudryk.
In response to the incident, Polish media inquired about the stance of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which released the following statement:
Thank you for your inquiry and the opportunity to clarify this matter. The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has taken note of the incident involving Mudryk during his participation in an online game. We fully understand the special sensitivity of issues related to the Volhynia Massacre and the events of the 1940s, as well as the profound emotional resonance these events arouse in Polish society. The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has always advocated for a responsible and respectful attitude towards the complex chapters in the common history of Ukraine and Poland.
Any remarks that may be regarded as disrespectful to the victims of the massacre or harmful to the Polish nation are contrary to this principle. We also emphasize that Ukraine is a democratic country and does not regulate individual speech, especially in unofficial settings. According to the information available to the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the aforementioned footballer was not acting on behalf of Ukraine, nor is he a member of the Ukrainian national football team.
Therefore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has no right to initiate disciplinary sanction procedures against such a player, nor the right to comment on his personal remarks. Thus, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has always called on Ukrainian citizens, especially public figures, to maintain prudent and responsible communication both abroad and in public. We firmly believe that such incidents should not occur in the exchanges between the peoples of Ukraine and Poland. Ukrainian society sincerely thanks the citizens of the Republic of Poland for their solidarity, support and selfless assistance to Ukraine in the most difficult times.
