Polish historian on the graves of the UPA: is joint memory possible

According to glavcom.ua: Ukrainian burials on Polish territory are an important issue that causes many disputes in relations between the countries. Part of Polish society sees the graves of UPA soldiers not only as places of memory but also as symbols of a painful historical past.

Polish historian Lukasz Adamski stated that the grave on Mount Monastery is regarded as a monument in honor of the UPA, becoming so after the battle in 1945, in which 62 UPA soldiers died. In 2015, unidentified individuals committed an act of vandalism, destroying the cross and the plate with the names of the soldiers.

“I would like this grave to be restored in such a way that no Ukrainian doubts the sincerity of Polish intentions – with a list of names and surnames,” emphasized Lukasz Adamski.

The Polish government restored the monument at the site of the battle, but without a list of the names of the soldiers, which was destroyed as a result of vandalism.

Ambiguous perceptions of UPA symbolism in Poland

Ukrainian graves with UPA symbolism evoke controversial attitudes in Poland due to the tragic history of relations between the countries. However, according to historian Lukasz Adamski, Ukraine has the right to remind about its sufferings from Polish pacification and other events.

“During the events in Volyn, the Poles acted in response to the actions of the UPA. The UPA began ethnic cleansing, while the Polish side defended itself.”

Despite this, Lukasz Adamski notes that among Polish historians there are no significant discrepancies in the perception of the Volhynian tragedy.

The issue of Ukrainian burials on Polish territory causes many disputes. Polish society views UPA graves as symbols of a complex historical past. And although the monuments have been reconstructed, the absence of a list of the names of buried soldiers remains a controversial issue that continues to spark discussion.