The Polish government has taken a historic decision to join forces with neighboring Ukraine to conduct excavations and research into victims of the Volyn massacre, paving the way for an end to decades of diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
In Warsaw, it is being spoken of as an important step towards reconciliation between the two countries. The announcement is seen as a step towards reconciliation between Poland and Ukraine, especially in the context of the current Russian aggression in the region. Prime Minister Tusk said that 'the history should no longer divide us'.
The Volyn massacre, also known as the Volhynia tragedy, took place during World War II in 1943–1945. In the Volhynia region, a part of Poland that has been part of western Ukraine since 1945, an estimated 50,000 to 100,000 Polish civilians were murdered by the Insurgent Army (UPA).
The UPA, a nationalist militia fighting for an independent Ukraine, attempted to expel the Polish population and ethnically cleanse the area. Poland has labeled these events as genocide. The German Nazi regime formed dozens of so-called 'Ost Legionen' in the early 1940s from various nationalist groups from former Soviet republics.
The legacy of the Volyn massacre has led to tensions between Poland and Ukraine for decades. Poland has long advocated recognition and justice for the victims, while Ukraine has mainly pointed to the complex historical context at the time. The issue has complicated bilateral relations, especially in periods of political instability in both Poland and Ukraine.
Last week, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that an agreement has been reached with Ukraine on the exhumation of Polish victims. This decision marks a major breakthrough after years of standstill. Tusk, who worked with President Volodymyr Zelensky, called the exhumations a crucial step in “healing the wounds of the past.”
The exhumations will take place in areas where mass graves are suspected. Both countries have said they will work together to identify and rebury the victims. The process is being coordinated by specialized commissions and historical institutes from both countries.