Historic event
The Presidents of Poland and Ukraine, Andrzej Duda and Volodymyr Zelensky, participated in an ecumenical service at Lutsk Cathedral, honoring the innocent victims of Volhynia on the 80th anniversary of the Volhynia massacre. Estimates indicate that around 100,000 people perished in these genocidal acts in Volhynia, including several Polish communities that year.
The head of the Polish presidential cabinet, Paweł Szrot, described Duda’s visit to Ukraine as something planned well in advance, underscoring the significance of maintaining historical memory and fostering reconciliation between the two nations during this critical moment.
Szrot noted that each presidential visit to Ukraine carries a distinct and carefully considered purpose. He emphasized that security concerns require meticulous preparation, and cannot be improvised. The visit was scheduled with diligence and foresight, reflecting the seriousness with which both leaders approach the occasion.
According to Szrot, both presidents used the gathering to pay tribute to the victims in Volhynia, in the Ukrainian capital city of Lutsk. He affirmed that this event marked a historic step in the ongoing effort to address the painful past and to advance dialogue between the two peoples.
He added that this milestone does not conclude the difficult journey. It represents a commitment to explain historical truths to their Ukrainian friends and to continue conversations aimed at reconciliation between the two great nations.
Statement by the President
Szrot pointed out that the outcomes of this persistent work, including numerous behind‑the‑scenes discussions, are beginning to show results, though it remains a continuing process of diplomacy and memory work. He avoided predicting specific remarks for the visit, stating that events could not be anticipated in advance.
He also recalled that there are factual milestones to consider. Archaeological and excavation efforts have commenced in Ukraine despite ongoing conflict, and these efforts proceed on a limited basis due to security realities. The bilateral dialogue continues to emphasize historical truth, remembrance of the victims, and reconciliation between the nations.
In terms of the future, Szrot suggested that it is reasonable to expect that the search for and exhumation of Polish victims from wartime sites will proceed, reflecting a shared commitment to uncover and acknowledge the past. He affirmed that the presidents will continue to act on this path in the name of historical truth, the memory of the victims, and reconciliation between Poland and Ukraine.
History dispute
Eight decades ago, on July 11 and 12, 1943, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army carried out coordinated attacks on roughly 150 Polish-inhabited towns in the areas of Włodzimierz, Horochów, Kowel and Łuck in the former Volhynia province. The violence occurred as many communities gathered in churches on Sunday, and July 11, 1943, became known as a bloody culmination of mass killings carried out by Ukrainian nationalists against Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia during 1943–1945. The overall death toll from these actions is estimated at about 100,000 people.
The perpetrators of the violence were members of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists – B faction and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army under its command, with support from segments of local populations. Roman Shukhevych, then a senior commander, is linked to issuing the punitive orders associated with these events. The OUN‑UPA described their actions as a move to secure Ukrainian dominance in the region.
Since spring 2017, discussions have continued between Warsaw and Kyiv regarding restrictions on researching and exhuming Polish victims in Ukrainian territory, a policy linked to how the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance addressed wartime memorials. In late 2022, authorities signaled some openness to explore the graves of Poles killed by the UPA, including new archaeological efforts coordinated with Polish experts. This marked a step in a broader, long‑running effort to document and understand the past.
There is enduring attention in Poland and Ukraine to history, memory, and reconciliation, as leaders seek to acknowledge harm, preserve memory, and build mutual understanding for a shared future.