In Poland, the exhumations in Puzhnyky are considered a breakthrough in relations with Ukraine

In Poland, the exhumations in Puzhnyky are considered a breakthrough in relations with Ukraine

The head of the Polish-Ukrainian working group on historical dialogue, MP Pawel Koval, stated that the excavations being conducted in the former village of Puznyky, Ternopil region, are a breakthrough in relations between the two countries.

This is reported by PAP.

Koval emphasized that he maintains regular contact with the team conducting excavations in Puznyky, Ukraine. He recalled that they managed to find the bodies of "a large group of victims."

"Genetic studies will now be conducted. A group of scientists, depending on the course of the research, will provide details about the location where, as expected, the bodies of the victims were found," added the MP, who is also the Polish government’s commissioner for the restoration of Ukraine.

As he noted, thanks to the negotiations between politicians from Poland and Ukraine, "after decades of confrontation," the parties found common ground.

"A resolution has been reached whereby every person, every Pole, every Ukrainian who wishes to search, bury, and honor their relatives with a cross will have a simple administrative path to do so," said Koval.

The politician emphasized that this opportunity is a "breakthrough." "I consider this an important event, which is why I use the term ’breakthrough.’ Also, because for the first time in ten years, excavations are being conducted, and the Ukrainian side has already issued several subsequent permits for excavations or search operations," said Koval.

He added that in some cases, it is not exactly known where the bodies of World War II victims are buried. At the same time, he noted that this concerns not only the Volyn tragedy but also Stalinist repression against Poles.

Koval assured that the work in Puznyky is being conducted at a very high level, both in terms of content, protection from Ukraine, and communication. "All of this requires openness but also some delicacy; I think everything is happening as it should," he assessed.

Last weekend, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Culture Andriy Nadzhos told PAP that during the search operations in Puznyky, the Polish-Ukrainian expedition found the remains of more than 30 people and exhumed over 20 bodies.

Exhumation work began on April 24.

It is estimated that during the tragic events of 1945, about 80 people died in Puznyky.

Recall, in response to the mass destruction of Ukrainian monuments in Poland in 2015-2017 and the inadequate investigation of these crimes, Ukraine introduced so-called moratoriums on search operations and exhumations of the remains of Poles who were killed in 1943-45 by UPA fighters.