A new phase in the search for World War II victims begins in Puzhniki
On June 22, the second phase of search operations will begin in the Ternopil region on the site of the former village of Puzhnyky, where researchers are searching for victims of World War II. The work will be carried out by Ukrainian and Polish scientists in collaboration with representatives of relevant institutions from both countries. The expedition is expected to last about a week.
In the Ternopil region, preparations are underway for a new phase of search operations in the area of the former village of Puzhnyky, where there may be burial sites of people who died during World War II. The expedition will begin on June 22 and will last approximately one week.
Alina Kharlamova, an archaeologist with the specialized institution “Volyn Antiquities,” announced the start of the work. According to her, researchers plan to survey the area near the old cemetery using technical equipment and manual research methods, including soil drilling. “The search expedition by Ukrainian and Polish scientists in Puzhnyky will begin on June 22. We expect the work to last about a week. We will survey an area located near the old cemetery. We will use technical equipment and work with drills. We also plan to involve bomb disposal experts to survey this area,” Kharlamova noted.
Both Ukrainian and Polish specialists are participating in the work. On the Ukrainian side, experts from the “Volyn Antiquities” institute are involved, and on the Polish side, a team from the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin.
Representatives of Polish organizations will also join the expedition, including the “Freedom and Democracy” Foundation and its vice president, Maciej Danciewicz, who is a descendant of the victims. Relatives of the victims are expected to participate, as well as representatives of the Institute of National Remembrance of Poland and the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. On the Ukrainian side, experts from the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance and the “Dolia” Memorial and Search Center will oversee the process.
Experts note that such joint expeditions have not only scientific but also humanitarian significance, as they allow for the establishment of historical facts and the restoration of the names of people who died during the war and remained forgotten for decades.
It is expected that upon completion of this phase of the search operations, experts will be able to obtain new data on possible burial sites and determine the next steps in the investigation of the Puzhnyky area. Alina Kharlamova, an archaeologist at the specialized institution “Volyn Antiquities,” reported this to Ukrinform.
