Polish-Ukrainian Breakthrough: Exhumations in Western Ukraine Mark Turning Point in Bilateral Historical Dialogue

In a major step forward for Polish-Ukrainian relations, exhumation efforts in the now-defunct village of Puzhnyky, located in Ukraine’s Ternopil region, have been hailed as a “breakthrough” by Polish lawmaker and co-chair of the joint historical dialogue group, Paweł Kowal.

The Gaze reports on this with reference to  the Polish Press Agency.

Kowal emphasized that the exhumations, which began on April 24 and have already uncovered over 30 remains, signify unprecedented progress after years of diplomatic gridlock over the issue of wartime graves. “This is the first time in a decade that such works are being carried out, and Ukraine has already issued several new permits for similar initiatives,” he noted.

Kowal, who also serves as Poland’s government envoy for Ukraine’s reconstruction, praised the ongoing work in Puzhnyky for its professionalism and sensitivity. “The process is being handled with the utmost care, both scientifically and diplomatically. It demands openness and delicacy. So far, everything is proceeding as it should.”

The remains are believed to belong to Polish victims of wartime atrocities during World War II, with genetic testing now underway to establish identities. Kowal stressed that the findings pertain not only to the Volhynia tragedy but also to the broader scope of Stalinist repressions.

For years, the issue of wartime exhumations was a source of significant tension between Warsaw and Kyiv. In response to the desecration of Ukrainian memorials in Poland between 2015 and 2017, Ukraine imposed a moratorium on exhumation and search activities involving Polish victims on its territory. That freeze has now been effectively lifted – a development Kowal attributes to improved political dialogue between the two governments.

Deputy Ukrainian Culture Minister Andrii Nadzhos confirmed that the joint Polish-Ukrainian expedition has already recovered over 20 bodies, with more expected as the site continues to be explored. According to historical estimates, around 80 individuals were killed during the 1945 tragedy in Puzhnyky.

The collaborative exhumation effort may now serve as a model for further reconciliation initiatives, as both countries attempt to navigate the complex legacy of 20th-century conflict in a way that respects memory, justice, and mutual dignity.

As The Gaze reported earlier, Polish and Ukrainian Foreign Ministers Radoslaw Sikorski and Andrii Sybiha issued a joint statement in Warsaw, in which Ukraine confirmed that there are no obstacles to the exhumation of the victims of the Volyn tragedy.