A Ukrainian-Polish expedition has begun search operations in the area of two former villages in Volhynia
Specialized search operations have begun in the Kovel District of Volyn Oblast at the sites of the former villages of Ostrivka and Volia Ostrovetska.
This was reported by the Ministry of Culture.
The expedition aims to locate the graves of local residents who died during an armed attack in August 1943.
This work was made possible thanks to agreements between the presidents of Ukraine and Poland.
The Ministry of Culture has granted official permission for the research, which will continue until early May in the Rivne rural community.
The main task of the specialists is to precisely determine the locations of mass graves for the subsequent identification of the deceased. If the remains are successfully located, the researchers will proceed to the stages of exhumation and the organization of a dignified reburial for the victims of the tragedy.
“Permission for the Polish side to conduct search operations in 2025 was granted by the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine to the LLC ‘Specialized Institution ‘Volyn Antiquities.’ Polish experts—staff members of the Institute of National Remembrance of the Republic of Poland and the Medical University of Wrocław—will also participate in the expedition,” the ministry noted.
The research is accompanied by strict security measures and constant professional supervision by Ukrainian historians.
The Working Group on National Memory ensures the transparency of the process and adherence to scientific standards by both sides.
Deputy Minister of Culture Ivan Verbytsky emphasized the importance of a constructive approach to shared historical issues.
He stressed that responsible dialogue is the only path to understanding and honoring the memory of the fallen.
“The tragic chapters of our shared 20th-century history remain sensitive for both Poles and Ukrainians. At the same time, consistent and responsible dialogue on these issues is the key to honoring the memory of the victims with dignity,” the official stated.
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