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Karol Polejowski and joint teams uncover World War II mass graves to mend strained Polish-Ukrainian relations

Archaeologists from Poland and Ukraine are currently excavating mass graves in western Ukraine, uncovering remains from the Volyn massacres of 1943-1945. Karol Polejowski, deputy president of the Polish Institute of National Remembrance, stated that the teams aim to restore the first and last names of the victims to fulfill their duty as heirs. The exhumations have revealed over 50 remains, including a significant number of children, alongside artifacts such as rosaries and shoes. These massacres have long been a source of tension between the two nations, as Poland views the events as a genocide of the Polish minority, while Ukraine views the UPA as freedom fighters. Political leaders in both countries are using the exhumations as a first step toward repairing relations. Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are working to de-escalate tensions following a rift caused by naming a military unit after the UPA. The joint teams will continue working in the area until August 7, with plans to rebury the remains in a local cemetery at the end of summer.

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