On the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Volhynia Tragedy, Tusk called for truth, solidarity, and reconciliation
On the National Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Volhynia Tragedy, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk addressed the public, calling on citizens to preserve historical memory, identify all those who perished, and build a future based on truth and solidarity.
In his address, the head of the Polish government emphasized that all victims of the tragedy must be identified and properly buried, and that those responsible for the crimes must be brought to justice.
“The victims must not be left nameless, nor can they be left without a proper burial. Remembering them is our shared duty to their loved ones, to the Polish nation, and to the state,” Tusk stated.
He announced that a special Wall of Remembrance with an Eternal Flame will be erected in Warsaw, on which the names of every victim of the Volhynia tragedy who has been found and identified will be engraved.
“Therefore, a Wall of Remembrance with an eternal flame will be erected in Warsaw, on which the names of every victim found and identified will be engraved. The Republic of Poland will not forget a single one of them,” the Polish prime minister emphasized.
Separately, Donald Tusk stressed that historical memory must not become a tool for inciting hatred, and that the response to nationalism cannot be even greater nationalism.
“Memory and truth should help us build a better future, free from hatred and contempt—a Europe of peace and mutual respect. The Europe that was reconciled after World War II became possible thanks to truth and the ability to call things by their proper names. Anyone who wants to join this Community must be prepared to face this truth,” he noted.
According to the Polish prime minister, Poland, Ukraine, and all of Europe share a common responsibility for the future of coming generations, and overcoming today’s challenges is possible only through unity.
“We need solidarity in the face of common threats, and solidarity is based on truth, memory, and hope,” Donald Tusk concluded.
The Polish prime minister posted a video on this topic on his social media accounts
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also announced that a Wall of Remembrance will be erected in Warsaw, featuring an eternal flame and the names of all confirmed Polish victims of 20th-century wars in Ukraine, including the Volhynia tragedy. According to him, the memory of the dead must be preserved, but history should not become a cause of new hostility between nations.
Every year on July 11, Poland observes the National Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Volhynia Tragedy. On this day, the country honors the memory of Polish civilians who died during the tragic events in Volhynia and other regions of the former Second Polish Republic during World War II.
Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz will visit the Volhynia region on Saturday, July 11, where he will take part in events commemorating those who died during the events of World War II.
