Contrary to earlier expectations, the search work completed at the end of March in the town of Uhly in the Rivne Oblast in Ukraine did not lead to the discovery of a mass burial of victims of the 1943 events.
How previously reported Nowiny Wschodnie, an expedition led jointly by the Polish and Ukrainian sides, aimed to locate the place where – according to the accounts of witnesses and families of the victims – the remains of between a dozen and even several dozen people could have been buried.
Researchers examined all the locations identified by witnesses and victims’ families. A total area of several hundred square meters was analyzed. Despite earlier expectations, no mass grave was found.
What did you find out?
– remains of the former German Protestant cemetery from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries
– individual human remains, including the body of a man aged approximately 30–50, buried in an unusual position
– foundations of the former cemetery chapel
As experts emphasize, the remains found do not represent a mass burial.
– We examined all the indicated locations. We did not find a mass grave. provided by Prof. Andrzej Ossowski from the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin.
Where did the expectations come from?
The work was initiated, among others, by Polish activist Karolina Romanowska, who for years had been emphasizing that the remains of her loved ones might be found in Uhły.
According to her account, in May 1943, several dozen people may have been murdered in the town and then buried in one place.
It was these messages that became the basis for commencing the search work.
Controversies and questions
However, the lack of a breakthrough raises new doubts.
Some experts point out that no complete preliminary research, such as a detailed analysis of aerial or ground-penetrating radar images, was carried out before the work began.
There are also critical voices regarding earlier media reports that suggested the mass graves were quickly found.
Cooperation despite everything
Despite the lack of expected results, both sides emphasize the importance of the very fact of carrying out a joint expedition.
Polish and Ukrainian scientists, representatives of state institutions and the victims’ families participated in the work.
Experts announce that the discovered remains will be subjected to further tests, including DNA analysis, which may help in their identification.
This is not the end
Although the mass burial was not found, the topic was not closed.
Further actions will depend on new data and decisions regarding financing of subsequent stages of research.
One thing remains certain – more than 80 years after the tragic events, the search for the truth continues.
Source: Polish Radio / Ukr.net / Pomeranian Medical University / Instagram report: kolorowaptakicom
Journalist and Editor-in-Chief of Nowiny Wschodnie, a news platform followed by more than 140,000 people on social media. A graduate in Journalism and Social Communication, he has been co-creating and developing Nowiny Wschodnie since 2017. He gained professional experience working with local and international media.
He specializes in fact-checking, countering disinformation and propaganda, and information security. His work focuses on Poland, Ukraine, Eastern Europe, and Polish-Ukrainian relations. He is also the founder of a non-profit organization working in the fields of integration and intercultural dialogue.