Ukraine is actively working on the possibility of reburial for prominent historical figures who currently rest in Poland. This was reported by Ukraine’s ambassador to Poland, Vasyl Bodnar, emphasizing that the formation of relevant lists is ongoing and cooperation is being established with relatives, the Ukrainian community, the Office of the President, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
This is reported by Finway
Ukrainian Burials in Poland: Historical Context
After the events of 1920, over 40,000 soldiers of the Ukrainian People’s Republic led by Symon Petliura found themselves in Poland. Since then, many Ukrainian political and military figures have been forced to remain in exile. Their graves are now located in various cities across the country. The ambassador noted that Symon Petliura had a residence in Tarnów, while the Ukrainian government in exile operated in Warsaw. Notable burials can be found at the Wola Cemetery in Warsaw, as well as in Kalisz, Pikulice, Lancut, and other cities.
“We are currently working on the lists, we have various proposals… There are some relatives who have their own opinions on this matter. There is a community that also views it differently. We are now working with both the Office of the President and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to summarize this list,” the diplomat noted.
Position of the Polish Side and Public Resonance
Vasyl Bodnar reported that the Polish side generally supports the initiative for reburials and discussions have already taken place with the Institute of National Remembrance of Poland. The parties are jointly working on agreeing on the necessary procedures for carrying out the reburials.
At the same time, discussions are ongoing in Poland regarding the recent reburial of the head of the OUN, Andriy Melnyk. His remains were transported from Luxembourg to Kyiv for burial at the National Military Memorial Cemetery. This has caused some resonance in Polish society due to the ambiguous attitude towards the activities of the OUN, which is historically perceived as a hostile organization.
The diplomat emphasized that Andriy Melnyk was not involved in the crimes mentioned by the Polish side; however, in public discussions, he is often equated with Stepan Bandera and Roman Shukhevych.