Poland, Ukraine Begin Exhumation of WWII Victims in Puzhnyky

A joint Polish-Ukrainian team has begun exhuming the remains of Polish victims from the Volhynia massacre in the former village of Puzniki (Puzhnyky) in western Ukraine, marking the first such operation since Ukraine lifted a ban on these activities. The exhumation, which started on April 24, 2025, follows years of Polish demands and recent agreements between the two governments, aiming to identify and rebury the victims from the 1945 massacre by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. The effort involves forensic scientists, archaeologists, and geneticists from both countries, with families of victims providing genetic material to aid identification. The Volhynia massacres, involving the deaths of tens of thousands of Poles and retaliatory killings of Ukrainians during World War II, remain a deeply sensitive and contentious issue in Polish-Ukrainian relations. While Poland welcomes the renewed cooperation, officials call for further access to additional sites, amid ongoing political sensitivities and the backdrop of Russia's war against Ukraine. Both nations have worked to resolve their historical disputes, though the legacy of the massacres continues to influence their relationship.