Vandalism Investigation Underway at Polish Memorial Honoring Volyn Tragedy Victims
In the Polish village of Dromostava, law enforcement authorities have launched a criminal investigation following damage to a memorial dedicated to the victims of the Volyn tragedy.
The incident occurred on August 6 and has sparked widespread public and media attention.
According to police reports, unidentified individuals defaced the monument by drawing a revolutionary red-black flag of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) and inscribed the words ‘Glory to UPA.’ This act of vandalism has elicited strong reactions among local residents, historians, and political circles, emphasizing the sensitive nature of the historical events involved.
The Polish Ministry of Interior is actively pursuing suspects and investigating the circumstances surrounding the vandalism.
This incident takes place amid recent legislation in Poland establishing a Day of Remembrance for the victims of Volyn, termed as honoring those who suffered from what the bill describes as ‘genocide carried out by OUN and UPA in the eastern territories of the Second Polish Republic.’ The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry expressed concern regarding the move, highlighting the complex and often contentious history linked to this issue.
Scholars and civic leaders are urging for a balanced and understanding approach to interpret the past, aiming to prevent politicized conflicts.
Additionally, in early June, Polish and Ukrainian teams collaborated in Lviv on archaeological and exhumation projects with the goal of reinterring Polish soldiers who perished in the early stages of World War II, including efforts authorized by the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture on former territories of the village of Zboiska, now part of Lviv.