In Poland, a provocative plaque has been removed from the grave of Ukrainian soldiers
In a neighboring country, Poland, the controversial and provocative plaque recently been removed and dismantled. It was installed at the site of the burial of Ukrainian fighters for independence — soldiers of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). The incident took place at a brotherly grave located on Mount Monastyr near the border between Poland and Ukraine, and it received wider coverage in Ukrainian media and diplomatic circles. According to information provided by the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, on April 28 of this year, local Polish authorities, including a cultural heritage restorer from the Subcarpathian Voivodeship, issued an order for the urgent removal of this provocative plaque. The Ukrainian authorities noted that the actions were carried out in strict accordance with Polish law and with compliance with all regulations concerning cultural heritage protection. From colleagues on the Polish side, it was reported that a criminal case had been initiated in connection with this incident. Polish police opened a criminal investigation under several articles of the Penal Code, including abuse of a monument or other public place intended for commemorating historical events or personalities, as well as destruction of someone else’s property. This pertains in particular to a monument erected in the 1990s on initiative of the Ukrainian community in Poland — the grave of fighters of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army who died in battle against NKVD units. The monument is situated on a hill in the village of Monastyr, Gorcyki Commune, and is a symbol of Ukrainian fighters for independence. This site had previously suffered damage multiple times. The news became even more resonant after a plaque with a highly provocative text appeared on the grave: “Brothers’ grave of Ukrainians, members of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, responsible for terror and genocide against defenseless Polish, Ukrainian, and Jewish populations. Lord God, have mercy on them and do not repay them for the terrible deeds they committed against their brothers. Forgiveness does not mean forgetting, but healing the pain.” This plaque caused outrage among Ukrainian and Polish communities, as well as diplomatic circles. Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed concern over the incident and firmly believed that the placement of such provocative information could have been secret — an attempt to hinder the process of establishing dialogue between the two countries in the areas of honoring historical memory and reconciliation. Kyiv emphasizes that such actions do not contribute to improving relations and disrupt the diplomatic balance regarding historical assessments. Overall, the situation with the dismantling of the provocative plaque once again demonstrated how topical and delicate the issue of historical memory remains in Polish-Ukrainian relations, as there are still sharp disagreements regarding the commemoration of fighters for independence and territorial integrity. At the same time, Ukrainian official structures stress the importance of legality and seeking compromise to avoid further conflicts in this sphere.