On Wednesday, the first exhumations in Volyn are to begin, resulting from an agreement between Polish and Ukrainian parties on the burial of Polish citizens murdered by UPA fighters from 1943 to 1945.
– I hope that this dialog will lead to Polish-Ukrainian relations moving in the right direction in this dimension. We hear and it is indeed good news that this year there will be approval to search. This is besides to be appreciated – Michał Dworczyk said, erstwhile asked whether he would congratulate the Polish government on its effectiveness in negotiations with the Ukrainian side.
Exhumation is underway in Volyn. Dworczyk: First but only this year
The PiS MEP pointed out that this would be the first but only exhumation this year. He besides stated that they were the consequence of work conducted since 2022 by the Freedom and Democracy Foundation. It was then that the foundation applied for approval to search. This request was received. This led to the discovery of remains of UPA victims in Puźniki in 2023 – he explained that this was a “continuation of a process”.
Dworczyk denied the words of the Polish Government's proxy for reconstruction of Ukraine, who claimed that no breakthrough had been made in the last 10 years. He misses the truth. In fresh years, discussions have been held at each meeting, both by the President, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Culture. The consequence of these talks was the first consent in almost a decade to the search – said the erstwhile minister.
The MEP did not hesitate to conclude that the current government's actions are a continuation of the PiS's. That's how it should be. In all crucial matters we should, regardless of who has the majority in the Sejm, conduct the policy in a prudent manner and proceed all the good actions that the predecessors have taken," he said.
Referring to the words of Paul Kowal, Dworzyk stated that it is not good to effort to usage the exhumation substance to “do politics.”
In addition to submitting a search request by the Freedom and Democracy Foundation, Dworczyk besides mentioned another events related to the Volyn issue. – We can remind the joint tribute to the victims of genocide in Lutsk Cathedral by president Andrzej Duda and president Zelenski. We can mention the Marshal of the Verchowna Council (Council of the ultimate Ukraine – ed.) who pays tribute to Poles murdered by UPA in front of the Katyn Square, he said.
UPA victims in the Cannons. The remains will be buried in the cemetery
Michał Dworczyk informed about uncovering a collective grave in the erstwhile town of Puźniki in the Tarnopolski region in October 2023. As he notified, in accordance with the regulations, Poland applied to Ukraine for approval to "exhumate, investigation and burial".
– We will not halt until we remember all the crimes of Ukrainian nationalism in Volyn and Podol – he said in a published recording – then Mateusz Morawiecki referred to this information.
The work on the site was carried out by Polish and Ukrainian specialists for 4 months. As a consequence of the Polish-Ukrainian agreement, representatives of the Freedom and Democracy Foundation, specialists from the Pomeranian Medical University and archaeologists will start exhumations this week, which will take about a month. The remains of the victims will be extracted, examined and then buried in a cemetery close the site.
