Ambassador predicts timing of Volhynia tragedy victims' exhumation
Ambassador of Ukraine to Poland Vasyl Bodnar (photo: Getty Images)
The exhumation of the victims of the Volhynia tragedy is scheduled to begin in the spring. The work will be carried out first of all where there is already a permit. This was stated by Ukraine's Ambassador to Poland Vasyl Bodnar, TVN24 reports.
"We are planning to exhume the victims of the Volhynia tragedy in the spring, first of all, where there is already a permit, i.e. in Puznyky. Now we are also working to decide on all other places on Ukrainian and Polish territory," he said.
Asked whether the exhumations in Puznyky will begin in April, he said that Ukraine does not know yet in which month, but is preparing to ensure that, weather permitting, all permits are issued and the team from the Polish side is ready to start the work.
"According to Ukrainian law, there must be a Ukrainian company licensed to carry out such work, and the Polish side already has such a partner... This cooperation is developing with the Ukrainian institution, it has received all the permits, and when the teams go together and start digging, the community will know, and we will announce it through the ministers of culture," Bodnar said.
Details of the Volhynia Tragedy
During the Second World War, under German occupation, several guerrilla groups operated on the territory of Ukraine. Among them were the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) and the Polish Home Army. They mainly fought in Volhynia.
In 1943-1944, the ethnic cleansing of Ukrainians and Poles took place, which was called the Volhynia tragedy. About 30,000 Polish and about 10,000 Ukrainian victims have been identified.
In late November, the foreign ministers of the two countries issued a joint statement on the issue of exhumations.
