Poland Urges Concrete Steps on Volhynia Massacre, Moving Beyond Words

Poland's Diplomat Calls for Action on Volhynia

According to Главком: Poland's Chargé d'Affaires in Ukraine, Piotr Łukasiewicz, has called for moving from discussion to concrete administrative action regarding the Volhynia Massacre. He emphasized the need to issue permits for exhumation and search operations to enable effective progress. Łukasiewicz cited ongoing work as examples, including exhumations in Puźniki and Mostyska, as well as the activities of Ukrainian search groups in Poland.

Cooperation to Restore Historical Memory

During a press conference, Piotr Łukasiewicz stated that officials and diplomats must now take specific bureaucratic steps to begin searching for and exhuming the victims of the Volhynia crime. He stressed the critical need to move from words to deeds, warning that without concrete steps, the matter will remain trapped in a 'vicious circle' of difficult and painful topics. He noted that exhumation work is already underway at the mentioned sites, demonstrating the potential for further cooperation.

In December, a meeting took place between Polish President Karol Nawrocki and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, where they discussed cooperation between the two countries' memory institutes. Karol Nawrocki underscored that collaboration in this sphere is extremely important, while Volodymyr Zelenskyy affirmed that Ukraine respects Poland's historical memory and expects mutual respect. Professor Bohdan Hud, a Doctor of Historical Sciences from the Faculty of International Relations at Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, also highlighted the importance of discussing this topic.

The efforts of both countries on the path to reconciliation and the restoration of historical memory remain pertinent, and the current calls for action could become a significant step in this process. The Volhynia Massacre was a series of ethnic killings during World War II that remains a sensitive historical issue between the two nations.

Discussions surrounding the Volhynia Massacre and the search for its victims underscore the value of interstate cooperation in restoring historical memory. The specific actions urged by Łukasiewicz could mark an important stage in the reconciliation process between Ukraine and Poland. As both nations seek common ground on this historical legacy, the importance of cooperation at the governmental and institutional levels becomes increasingly evident.