We can't hush up the Volyn tragedy, archaeologist insists

Key questions:

• Why was the site of a former village in Ternopil region chosen for the exhumation?

• What did archaeologists discover and what are the results of the excavation?

• Where will the victims of the Volyn tragedy be buried?

• Why is this important for Poland and Ukraine?

In April 2025, the first exhumation in many years of Volyn tragedy victims began in the former village of Puzhnyky, Ternopil region. This became possible after lengthy negotiations between Ukraine and Poland – both sides agreed on the need to properly honor the memory of the deceased.

The village of Puzhnyky was established in the 19th century by Polish settlers from the Vistula region. Before World War II, over 1,000 people lived there, mostly Poles. During the war, already tense relations between Ukrainians and Poles worsened further. In February 1945, the village was attacked, resulting in the deaths of around 80 people, mainly women and children. The survivors left – but to Poland. In 1949, the Soviet authorities liquidated the village, and it disappeared from the map of Ukraine.

In 2017, Ukraine imposed a moratorium on the exhumation of Polish victims of the Volyn tragedy due to escalating historical disputes. It was only in 2024, after agreements were reached between the foreign ministers of Ukraine and Poland, that the moratorium was lifted. This allowed preparations for the exhumation in Puzhnyky to begin.

The exhumation work started on April 24, 2025. Joint Ukrainian-Polish teams of archaeologists and anthropologists took part in the effort. The work concluded in May. In an interview with RBC-Ukraine, the head of the Ukrainian team, Alina Kharlamova – archaeologist from the LLC "Specialized Institution "Volyn Antiquities" – described how the process unfolded.

What is known about the village of Puzhnyky and why the exhumation took place there

– Why was the first exhumation carried out specifically in the Ternopil region?

– The exhumation of victims in the area of the former village of Puzhnyky in the Ternopil region was commissioned by the Freedom and Democracy Foundation. The head of the foundation, Maciej Dancewicz, had relatives in Puzhnyky himself. So for him, this is also a personal story, and like many other Poles, it was important for him to learn the facts about his family members and give them a proper reburial. This has great significance for him. He personally collected testimonies and historical documents about the events in Puzhnyky.

Most of the descendants of those buried in the mass grave now live in Poland. The village itself ceased to exist in 1949. Those who survived moved away.

The process of exhuming victims of the Volyn tragedy in Puzhnyky was completed in May (photo: Getty Images)

– What does the area look like today, given that the village no longer exists?

– The area where the village of Puzhnyky once stood is the territory where the Carpathian Foothills begin. These are wooded hills, long uninhabited. The only reminder of the village is the fruit orchards that still grow there.

Why was it difficult to locate the mass grave near the cemetery? Because massive trees had grown on top of it. When the trees were uprooted, human remains were pulled out along with the roots.

– Were there any preparatory works before the exhumation itself began?

– First, historical research was conducted, and eyewitness accounts were collected. The Polish side has a list of people who died in Puzhnyky — 79 individuals.

Then, DNA samples were collected from the relatives of the victims in Poland. When we exhumed the remains from the mass grave, DNA samples were also taken from them. All this material will now be compared, and I believe it will be possible to identify these individuals specifically.

– How did you personally become involved in this process?

– I have prior experience with exhumation work. I participated in reburials at an old cemetery on Lyzhvyarska Street in Lviv, where my colleagues and I examined several thousand graves. During my internship in Lithuania, we carried out the exhumation of German soldiers from World War II.

Our director, historian Oleksii Zlatohorskyi, made tremendous efforts to obtain the necessary permits and long advocated for the excavation of Polish graves in Ukraine. Unfortunately, he could not attend the exhumation himself, as he is currently serving in the Armed Forces. The permit for the exhumation arrived after he had already been deployed to the front. The process could not be delayed, so I had to lead the expedition. But I believe we managed well.

– Who was responsible for the delay in issuing the exhumation permit?

– It was the Ministry of Culture. But I don’t know why the permit took so long to be issued — that is beyond my area of responsibility.

Before the exhumation itself, search operations were conducted, including in 2023. These were carried out by a joint Ukrainian-Polish expedition. The goal then was to find the mass grave and confirm its location. We had information that it was near the old cemetery in Puzhnyky. But no one knew from which side or in which direction to look. Nevertheless, we eventually found it and identified the location for the exhumation.

What was discovered during the exhumation in Puzhnyky and why it matters

– What are the main results of the exhumation process that was completed in May in Puzhnyky?

– During the exhumation, we discovered a mass grave containing the remains of 42 people. Among them were approximately 10 children, three of whom were very young — under the age of three. Of the adults, about half were women and half were men.

This followed extensive preparatory work. Eyewitness testimonies and historical documents were collected, and search operations were carried out until we finally located the edge of the mass grave. The exhumation itself took place from late April to early May.

The exhumation began on April 24 and was completed by May 5. However, anthropologists continued working on site for several more days to analyze the remains and collect DNA samples.

– Who conducted the analysis — was it only the Polish side, or did Ukrainians also participate?

– It wasn’t just Polish specialists who were involved. Ukrainian anthropologists also took part. Among them was Klavdiia Sharapova from Kyiv, who worked as part of our team. In general, this was a joint effort — there was no division into "what the Polish side does" and "what we do." We worked together on a single, shared project.

Naturally, responsibilities were divided. But everyone was in their place, doing their job. I believe we worked in a coordinated way, and the whole process was a success.

As a result of the exhumations, it will be possible to reliably establish the names of people (photo: provided by Alyna Kharlamova)

– Are there any results from the anthropologists?

– They are currently preparing their report. For now, we can confirm what I mentioned earlier: the remains of around 10 children were found, and among the adults, there was an even number of men and women. Some were young, others were older.

– What other details can be shared from the excavation findings?

– We can say that some of these individuals were Catholics, Roman Catholics. During the excavation, we found parts of rosaries — beads and medallions (rosaries are traditional Catholic prayer beads used for reciting prayers – ed.).

Rosaries were also discovered — these are strings or chains with beads arranged in five decades, separated by larger beads. A rosary is not a charm or ornament, but a prayer tool that helps one stay focused and keep count while praying.

Catholic crosses were also found in the mass grave. In addition, there was a Greek Catholic medallion from the Pochaiv Lavra. After cleaning it, we saw that it had inscriptions in Latin script. We believe it may have later been blessed according to the Roman Catholic tradition.

– The Polish side had lists of people who might have been buried in that mass grave. Does this mean specific names will now be identified?

– Yes. A genetic examination will be conducted later, and we hope it will allow us to identify the individuals whose remains were found.

– Why was it important for the Polish side to conduct this excavation? Polish officials have stated the process was very successful.

– Yes, the Polish side took this very seriously. It is important for them that their ancestors receive a proper burial — laid to rest according to Christian rites, not left in a pit. For them, the news that their ancestors will be reburied is clearly a positive development. And it is important for the Ukrainian side as well.

The Volyn tragedy has long been a painful subject for both Ukrainians and Poles. In my view, we should not remain silent about these events. For example, UPA soldiers — they were and remain our heroes, the bearers of the Ukrainian national idea. We must understand that those were extremely harsh times, marked by various tragic events. This does not change our attitude toward the UPA movement. I believe we should acknowledge that not all people are perfect and that such episodes are part of our history.

The very fact that excavations like this are taking place is a positive step for both Ukraine and Poland. The more we try to remain silent, the more myths will develop around any story. And as we know, myths are something the Russian side is very good at exploiting.

The same goes for other cases — when we exhume the remains of Germans who died on our land during World War II, this is done for the sake of their families’ memory, for the sake of history. No one tries to use this to worsen relations with Germany. We simply have to acknowledge this part of history, give these people a proper burial, and move forward in our relations.

These events took place 80 years ago. Today, we live in a different world. Ukraine and Poland share a common enemy — Russia. And we should unite.

Polish and Ukrainian sides negotiated for several years on excavations and exhumations of the Volyn tragedy victims (photo: Getty Images)

Where will the victims be buried, and are other excavations ongoing during the war?

– Will these people be buried in Ukraine? Will they be transported to Poland?

– No, they will not be transported to Poland. They will be reburied right there in Puzhnyky. In my opinion, this is logical since those people lived their entire lives there.

– How many similar burial sites like the one in Puzhnyky are there in Ukraine overall? Are there plans to conduct further work in other regions or villages?

– I cannot give an exact number. But such sites definitely exist, and there are quite a few. These are in the Volyn region, Rivne region, and Ternopil region. I hope that in the future we will receive the necessary permits and will continue this work further.

– Are other archaeological excavations currently being carried out in Ukraine during martial law? Or are only significant ones like this joint project with the Polish side conducted?

– Currently, archaeological excavations continue even during martial law, both rescue excavations and planned ones. Universities are operating, and students study relevant specializations. They need to complete practical training. There is no ban on archaeological research. The only requirement is that the work takes place in relatively safe locations.

We also face a certain problem with personnel because many professional archaeologists are fighting on the front lines. But archaeological work is progressing. I hope our colleagues will return safely and unharmed after the victory.