Joint Search Operations in Huta Pieniacka
From June 8 to 18, a Polish-Ukrainian team conducted search operations in the former village of Huta Pieniacka, located in the Lviv region of western Ukraine. Over an area of roughly 4,000 square meters, the team discovered the foundation of a church and a mass grave believed to hold several hundred victims. The burial site itself spans approximately 70 square meters.
The first human remains were reported on June 13 by Poland’s Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) Bureau of Search and Identification. The victims were buried without coffins, in a chaotic arrangement, with visible signs of burns and traumatic injuries on the remains. No items of clothing or personal belongings had been found at the time of the initial announcement. Oleksandr Alfiorov, head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance, stated that there is no definitive information about who committed the crime.
“There is no final evidence about who carried out the crime,”
Oleksandr Alfiorov
Polish IPN officials have pointed to the involvement of the 14th SS Division 'Galizien,' with support from the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) and Ukrainian paramilitary groups. However, Alfiorov added that “historical research has shown that the SS Division 'Galizien' was not there.” At the end of 2025, a working group agreed on a list of sites for search operations scheduled for that year.
What Comes Next?
Exhumation of the discovered remains is planned to begin in the spring of 2027. Search operations are also ongoing in other locations across Ukraine, including:
- Puzhnyky
- Holosk
- Ostrivky
- Uhly
Meanwhile, in Poland, searches are being conducted in:
- Yurechkova
- Laskova
- Sahryn
Notably, in Ostrivky, a new burial of victims of the Volyn tragedy was also found near the foundation of a former school.
The completion of search work in Huta Pieniacka marks a significant step in studying the history of mass atrocity victims from World War II. The uncovered remains may not only help identify the deceased but also shed light on the complex relationships between the various parties involved in the conflict at that time. Further research and exhumation could also contribute to restoring historical memory and fostering reconciliation between the Polish and Ukrainian peoples.
As investigations into the tragic past of World War II continue, similar discoveries are being made across the region. Recently, an unmarked mass grave was uncovered in Poland, revealing the haunting remnants of that era. Such findings not only highlight the need for historical accountability but also shed light on the broader impact of wartime atrocities in Eastern Europe.