A particularly outrageous incident occurred on TVN. Konrad Piasecki, a journalist from the network, made the following “comparison” in the context of Stepan Bandera:
“Piłsudski was also a terrorist who carried out terrorist attacks on Russian trains.”
To zdumiewające, że historyk z wykształcenia, jakim jest redaktor @KonradPiasecki, postawił znak równości między Banderą a Piłsudskim. I jeszcze w to brnął. Tym bardziej należą się brawa dla @BoguckiZbigniew za reakcję w studiu! Zrobił to jako jedyny. pic.twitter.com/ApT1O7rWay
— Andrzej Śliwka 🇵🇱 (@SliwkaAndrzej) March 2, 2025
These words sparked a strong reaction from PiS politician Zbigniew Bogucki.
A Sensitive Topic
It is no secret that the Volhynia Massacre remains an unresolved issue, frequently resurfacing in Polish-Ukrainian relations. This atrocity was undoubtedly one of the most brutal and tragic episodes of World War II.
However, the Volhynia Massacre was not a spontaneous outbreak of hatred. It was the result of the long-term influence of Ukrainian nationalist ideology, which aimed to create an independent, ethnically homogenous Ukraine by exterminating and expelling Poles and other nationalities.
Behind the horrors of the Volhynia Massacre stood the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists—Stepan Bandera’s faction—and its armed wing, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army.
A TVN Employee Caused Outrage
TVN has often been accused of crossing the boundaries of decency and “good taste.” But this time, Konrad Piasecki, a journalist for TVN24, went all out, insulting the great patriot Józef Piłsudski in an exceptionally devious and disgraceful manner.
“Do you think Sławomir Mentzen walks around Lviv condemning Bandera’s monuments, saying that Bandera was a terrorist who murdered the Polish Minister of the Interior? That was the reality back then. Piłsudski was also a terrorist who carried out terrorist attacks on Russian trains. No one holds it against him; on the contrary, he is glorified for it,” Piasecki stated live on air.
His words were immediately challenged by PiS MP Zbigniew Bogucki, who was participating in the discussion:
“If you believe that Józef Piłsudski, who fought for Poland’s independence, should be equated with the criminal Bandera, then I strongly disagree.”
“Banderites murdered children, women—including pregnant women—and the elderly,” he explained.
However, this did not prompt any self-reflection in Piasecki, who decided to double down.
“My advice: educate yourself on history first, and then engage in this discussion…” the TVN journalist shot back.
“You should take back your statement equating Józef Piłsudski with Stepan Bandera,” the PiS MP responded.
And He’s a… Historian!
Interestingly, Konrad Piasecki is actually a trained historian. PiS MP Andrzej Śliwka pointed this out on X.com:
“It is astonishing that a historian by education, like Konrad Piasecki, equated Bandera with Piłsudski—and then doubled down on it. All the more reason to applaud Zbigniew Bogucki for his reaction in the studio!”