The exhumation of World War II victims has been completed in Volyn
In Volyn, Ukrainian and Polish experts have completed exhumation work in the areas of the former villages of Ostrivky and Volya Ostrovetska, where they were investigating mass graves from World War II.
Experts from the LLC “Specialized Institution ‘Volyn Antiquities’” joined the efforts, along with representatives from the Institute of National Remembrance of the Republic of Poland and the Medical University of Wrocław.
“On the territory of the former villages of Ostrivky and Volia Ostrovetska (now within the Rivne rural community of the Kovel District, Volyn Oblast), experts from LLC “Specialized Institution ‘Volyn Antiquities’,” together with their Polish colleagues — employees of the Institute of National Remembrance of the Republic of Poland and the Medical University of Wrocław — have completed the exhumation of the remains of residents of these villages who tragically perished in August 1943,” according to a statement from the Institute of National Remembrance (UINP).
During the work on the site of the former village of Volia Ostrovetska, the remains of 48 people were discovered, and on the site of Ostrivky, the remains of six people were found.
The remains of one additional person were found near the cemetery across from the memorial in Ostrivky. Experts are currently determining the period of that burial.
According to the UIPN, the remains of men, women, and children were discovered during the exhumation work.
To further identify the victims, experts collected samples for DNA analysis.
Once the necessary investigations are complete, the remains are scheduled to be reburied in the cemetery of the former village of Ostrivky.
The Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance provided professional oversight of the search operations and ensured the participation of an anthropologist.
Supervision was carried out by “Dolia,” a municipal enterprise of the Lviv Regional Council, which is engaged in locating the graves of participants in the national liberation struggle, as well as victims of wars, deportations, and political repression.
Permission to conduct exhumation research followed by the reburial of the remains on the grounds of the former Catholic cemetery in the village of Ostrivky was granted by the State Interagency Commission.
The decision was adopted on June 4, 2026, during a meeting of the commission on commemorating participants in the anti-terrorist operation, as well as victims of war and political repression.
This was reported by the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance on Facebook.
Ukraine and Poland are coordinating further search and exhumation efforts on Ukrainian territory. During a meeting of the Ukrainian-Polish working group in Lviv, the Polish side provided a new list of sites where such activities could be carried out.
Prior to this, exhumation work was completed on the site of the former village of Volia Ostrovetska in the Volyn region. Experts discovered the remains of 48 people who died during World War II.
