Polish delegation participates in reburial ceremony for UPA victims near Puźniki, urging for a genuine Polish-Ukrainian reconciliation process.
Polish Cultural Minister Calls for Urgent Exhumations
During the ceremony, Polish Minister of Culture and National Heritage, Marta Cienkowska, emphasized the need to conduct exhumations of the victims across all locations where Poles were killed by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). “We cannot fail in honoring the dignity of each victim,” she stated.
Deeper Historical Context
The ceremony took place on September 6 in Puźniki, Ukraine, to commemorate the victims of the 1943 Wołyń Massacre. Polish officials expressed their condolences and reaffirmed a commitment to healing the wounds of the past, despite opposition from certain Ukrainian interests.
Nationalist Monuments in Question
Polish President Karol Nawrocki raised concerns about a monument in nearby Czortków, which honors the leader of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN-B), as well as a traitor linked to the genocide of Puźniki residents. “We cannot ignore this tragic fact,” Nawrocki stressed, emphasizing the need for a dignified and transparent commemoration of the victims.
