The first stage of exhumation of victims of the Volyn tragedy was completed in the Lenniki in Ternopil region. The work was carried out by a joint Ukrainian-Polish expedition. Archaeologists have found a mass grave with the remains of 42 people, including 10 children, including three years of age. This was reported by the head of the Ukrainian group, archaeologist Alina Kharlamov.
According to her, some of the dead are women, some are men. Before starting the work, they were prepared: they gathered eyewitness testimonies, processed archival documents, determined a probable burial place.
The works lasted from late April to early May. Despite complex logistics - the burial place is located in the deaf forest - the expedition coped with the task. Ammunition or other explosive objects have not been found.
The Polish side provided lists of persons who could be buried in this place. Now, according to the archaeologist, a genetic examination will be conducted to establish the names of the dead. Transportation of remains to Poland is not planned - they are buried at the place where these people lived.
This is the first such expedition since 2017, when Ukraine has introduced an exhumation moratorium due to historical disputes with Poland. After diplomatic agreements between the Foreign Ministry of the two countries at the end of 2024, the restrictions were lifted, which made it possible to start work.
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Volyn tragedy is a tragic episode of the Ukrainian-Polish confrontation in 1943-1944, during which thousands of civilians were killed. This event remains a sensitive topic for the historical memory of both peoples.
