Remains of at least 38 people unearthed in Volhynia, signs of severe trauma reported

Exhumations in the former villages of Ostrówki and Wola Ostrowiecka in Ukraine have revealed a mass grave containing the remains of at least 38 victims of the Volhynian Massacre.

Discovery of victims in Volhynia

The former villages of Ostrówki and Wola Ostrowiecka are now part of the Rivne rural municipality in the Kovel district of the Volyn region. The IPN’s Office of Search and Identification reported on Monday that the remains of at least 38 individuals have been uncovered, with more victims being revealed as the excavation of the burial pit progresses.

Father Tomasz Trzaska of the IPN stated that crews began exhumations last week at the site of a former farm owned by Aleksander Strażyc in Wola Ostrowiecka. Work remains at an early, surface-level stage, with no skeletal remains lifted yet to ensure they can be recovered in their entirety.

Evidence of mechanical trauma

The IPN reports that the bodies were deposited in the pit in a disorganized and careless manner. The remains were found in a chaotic layout without any traces of coffins or containers, and many skulls show clear evidence of severe mechanical trauma.

Personal items including medals, crosses, and clothing elements such as buckles, buttons, and jewelry were found alongside the remains. Additionally, last week, researchers discovered the remains of one person in a separate grave located in a forest near the Ostrówki cemetery.

Context of long-term search efforts

Current efforts are part of a multi-year project in the region where 674 people were identified and buried with dignity between 1992 and 2015. This interdisciplinary team includes experts from the Institute of National Remembrance, the Volhynian Antiquities enterprise, and representatives from the Wroclaw Medical University, with support from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and the Polish consulate in Lutsk.

The Ukrainian side issued authorization for the exhumations in early June, with current operations scheduled to continue until August 7. Historical records indicate that thousands of victims from the Volhynian Massacre have been sought in mass graves across these locations since 1992.

Regulatory changes and history of access

Search activities faced a significant moratorium beginning in 2017, following the dismantling of a UPA monument in Hruszowice, Poland. The ban on searching and exhuming remains of Polish conflict victims in Ukraine was lifted in late November 2024 following negotiations between the foreign ministers of both countries.

Last year, Polish authorities conducted successful exhumations in the former village of Puźniki, recovering the remains of at least 42 individuals. Subsequent searches in the area have yet to yield additional mass graves, with new exploration phases planned for mid-August.