Kosiniak-Kamysz in Volhynia: Exhumations Are a Matter of Utmost Importance for Poland

On the 83rd anniversary of Bloody Sunday, Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz visited Ołyka in the Volhynia region to honor victims of Ukrainian nationalists and call for truth, remembrance, and reconciliation.

Commemoration in Ołyka

On the 83rd anniversary of Bloody Sunday, Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz visited Ołyka to pay tribute to the victims of Ukrainian nationalists. He emphasized that the victims cry out not for revenge, but for memory and truth.

Speaking at the site, the Minister stated that society must remember the victims to ensure that such experiences never recur between the Polish and Ukrainian nations. He stressed the importance of prayers and maintaining the historical memory of those who died solely for being Polish.

The Path to Reconciliation

Kosiniak-Kamysz argued that a better future requires a foundation of truth, commemoration, and forgiveness. He noted that these values must be inextricably linked and that true reconciliation cannot be fueled by hatred.

The Minister asserted that exhumations and a dignified burial for the victims are matters of “utmost importance” for Poland. He explained that these actions are necessary steps to achieve full forgiveness and to avoid falling into a lethal cycle of hatred.

The Eleventh Commandment

The Defense Minister proposed adding an “eleventh commandment” to the moral code: “Do not cause pain, and do not glorify those who inflict pain and suffering upon your friends.” He emphasized that true friendship requires speaking the truth, even when it is difficult.

Piotr Łukasiewicz, Poland’s charge d’affaires in Ukraine, accompanied the Minister. He stated that feeling shame for the violence of the past helps current generations become better, wiser, and nobler citizens, teaching them how to build a better future.

Observances Across Poland

National Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the OUN and UPA was observed throughout Poland. A mass was held at the Field Cathedral of the Polish Army in Warsaw, followed by wreath-laying ceremonies at the Genocide Victims Monument and the 27th Volhynian Infantry Division of the Home Army monument.

Patriotic events, historical exhibitions, and educational meetings were also organized by the Institute of National Remembrance in numerous cities, including Bydgoszcz, Gdańsk, Kraków, Lublin, and Rzeszów.