In order to celebrate the memory of all those murdered by russian officers of the NKVD (People's Interior Commission) in Katyn, Kharkov, Mednoje and another places of execution, the Sejm of the Republic of Poland on 14 November 2007 adopted by aclamation a resolution establishing the 13th April Memorial Day of the Victims of Katyn Crime. Last year the Sejm announced the year 2025 "The Year of Polish Heroes from Katyń, Kharkiv, Mednoje, Bykownia and another places" – victims of russian genocide. On 5 March of this year, the 85th anniversary of the resolution taken by members of the Central Committee of the WKP (b), headed by Józef Stalin, on the execution of Polish POWs in russian camps in Kozielsk, Starobielsk and Ostashkov.
85 years ago almost 22 1000 Poles lost their lives at the hands of the Soviets, among them almost 10 1000 Polish Army officers. In Katyn alone there are 4421 victims, prisoners of war brought from Kozielsk camp, where they stayed since autumn 1939. They were killed without trial, without trial, without judicial judgment. Among the elite communists destroyed were state officials, teachers, doctors, lawyers, engineers, entrepreneurs. Additionally, military and officers of various uniform formations: Border defender Corps, State Police, Prison Service, Forest Guard. Exterminations of the NKVD and the pits of death, to which Polish citizens were brutally murdered, included outside Katyn besides Kalinin, Mednoje, Kuropaty, Kiev-Bykownia, Kharkiv and Kherson, and another burial sites, inactive undiscovered. In total, in the fall of 1939 the Soviets captured or arrested about 240 1000 Polish soldiers, including about 15 1000 officers, who were subsequently transferred to the NKVD authorities. This was a gross violation of the war customs of the Geneva Convention. Our war doctrine was destroyed and buried in Katyn's sands. The war crime on the captives is simply a manifestation of modern barbarism, which in a civilized planet is an inconceivable thing and must be condemned forever. The execution on Polish officers and representatives of another military formations of II Rzeczpospolita was an effort to weaken the civilisational Polish nation, so that it could be more easy subjected to Sovietization.
This punishment of Polish citizens is simply a burning wound on the Polish soul. Despite decades, he inactive can't heal. The Katyn crime remains a symbol of communist totalitarianism and a long-standing conflict for the fact with the lie of the russian apparatus negating its actions. Blood on the Polish uniform murdered by the NKVD symbolizes the highest sacrifice for Homeland and nation, for freedom and independence.
Deputy Prime Minister, head of the MON Władysław Kosiniak-Kamish at celebrations commemorating the 85th anniversary of the Katyn crime. 10 April 2025, Katyń Museum in Warsaw.
A peculiarly poignant description of the crime came out of Joseph Mackiewicz's pen in the article “I saw with my own eyes”, published in the issue of 577 Vilnius “The regular Bishop” of 3 June 1943: “They are not anonymous corpses. This is the army. You could hazard naming an army flower, combat officers, any of the 3 pre-defeated wars. But what plagues imagination most is the individuality of murder, multiplied in this monstrous mass. due to the fact that it's not mass gassing, or decapitating with a series of device guns, where hundreds cease to live in a minute or seconds. On the contrary, everyone died long minutes, each shot individually, each waited his queue, each was dragged to the edge of the grave; a 1000 for a thousand," wrote the author.
Let the anniversary celebrations be accompanied by the belief that a strong army, strong alliances and a conscious society can keep independency and deter possible aggressors.
Let the Polish society never lose respect for the uniform of the Polish soldier, police officer, border guard, firefighter, for all professions whose representatives save the lives and wellness of Poles, like wellness workers or members of the Volunteer Fire Department. I'll always be on your side.
I bow my forehead and pay tribute to the heroes who have offered the highest sacrifice on the altar of our Homeland. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten. Praise the heroes, disgrace the criminals!
