Ukraine has issued the first permits for the exhumation of the bodies of Poles who died in Volyn during the Second World War. Polish Prime Minister Tusk announced this on the social network.
Earlier, several Polish officials said that only under this condition would they support Ukraine’s accession to the EU.
The topic of the Volyn tragedy has become controversial in relations between Ukraine and Poland and why Ukraine was against exhumation in the past.
The Volyn tragedy (1942-1944) was a bloody conflict between Ukrainians and Poles. Poland calls this genocide by the UPA, the “Volyn Massacre,” while Ukraine notes that both sides, as well as the occupation administration of Nazi Germany and Soviet partisan detachments, bear responsibility for the massacres of Poles and Ukrainians in Volyn.
The number of victims is also given differently: from 20 thousand Ukrainians and 35-40 thousand Poles according to Ukrainian data to 100 thousand Poles and 5 thousand Ukrainians according to Polish data.
The Volyn tragedy still affects Ukrainian-Polish relations. But Kyiv and Warsaw are unable to come to an agreement. And now the Poles are saying: Ukraine will not be a member of the EU if it does not resolve historical issues with Poland.
On November 27, 2024, Ukraine and Poland adopted a joint statement regarding the exhumations of the victims of the Volyn tragedy.
The statement says that in the near future Poland and Ukraine will begin work on a joint working group under the auspices of the ministries of culture of both countries with the aim of carrying out substantive work and reaching agreement between the parties.
Ukraine confirms that there are no obstacles to the conduct of search and exhumation work by Polish government agencies and private individuals on the territory of Ukraine in cooperation with competent Ukrainian institutions in accordance with Ukrainian legislation and declares its readiness to positively consider applications in these cases, the statement said.
Polish Prime Minister Tusk called the agreement “the key to the complete reconciliation of our peoples, so necessary at this dramatic moment in our common history.”
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.