The Volhynia question in 2025: how Poland and Ukraine seek reconciliation through truth
July 2025 in Poland was marked not only by a new political course but also by a renewed focus on one of the most sensitive issues in relations with Ukraine the Volhynia tragedy. Newly elected Polish President Karol Nawrocki publicly appealed to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, calling for “large-scale exhumations” and the truth about the events of 1943. According to Nawrocki, “Poles are not ready to accept being denied the right to bury the victims of the Volhynian genocide,” and reconciliation is possible only when both sides frankly acknowledge the past. What role does the Volhynia issue play in Kyiv-Warsaw dialogue today, what is really happening with the exhumation process, and why is the new Polish president’s position so significant? This article provides an in-depth and calm analysis.
A New President, a New Tone: What Karol Nawrocki Said
Karol Nawrocki, a historian by training, headed the Institute of National Remembrance of Poland before becoming president and was among the main proponents of recognizing the Volhynia tragedy as genocide. His first public steps as president confirmed: he considers the Volhynia issue a matter of honor for the Polish state.
On July 9 in Chełm, during a commemoration event, Nawrocki stated:
“Poles are not ready to accept being denied the right to bury the victims of the Volhynian genocide… We are not calling for revenge, we are calling for the cross, we are calling for the grave, we are calling for remembrance. Only truth and a dignified farewell can heal this wound.”
He directly appealed to the President of Ukraine to initiate “systemic, large-scale exhumations” of Volhynia victims on Ukrainian territory to end a multi-decade trauma and pay due respect to the dead.
“Poles are waiting for this truth, and Volhynian families are still suffering from the trauma that happened 82 years ago. This is not for revenge, but to heal the history of our nations,” Nawrocki emphasized.
What Is Changing in Practice: Exhumations, Memorials, and a Museum in Chełm
The issue of exhumations has appeared in Kyiv-Warsaw dialogue more than once. In recent years, Poland insisted on permission to carry out search works in Western Ukraine to identify and properly bury the victims. The Ukrainian government had earlier delayed agreement due to the sensitivity of the issue, but under recent political agreements, the process has resumed.
In April 2025 in Ternopil region and in June in Lviv region, the first works were already conducted. At the same time, a museum project dedicated to the memory of Volhynia tragedy victims is unfolding in Chełm. The Polish authorities emphasize: “We are not seeking political revenge, but a dignified peace for every victim.”
The Political Context: Volhynia and Elections in Poland
The Volhynia topic has always been sensitive ahead of elections. The past year was no exception: opposition politicians openly declared that “Volhynia could become a reason to block Ukraine’s EU accession” if there was no progress on exhumations. Such statements have repeatedly been made by Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
However, the official position of the Polish state remained more restrained. Former President Andrzej Duda publicly denied the possibility of blocking Ukraine’s European integration over the past, stressing:
“Such threats are Putin’s policy. Poland remains Ukraine’s advocate in the EU and will not allow history to become a tool for division.”
Is Reconciliation Possible?
Public discourse is not only about formal exhumation, but also about mutual acknowledgment of guilt and respect for the tragedy of both nations. Ukrainian historians, including Yaroslav Hrytsak, point out:
“Ukraine must find the courage to admit that OUN-UPA units committed ethnic cleansing, and Poland must recognize its own guilt for interwar policies and the mass killings of Ukrainians. There should be exhumations, both sides must move toward each other. There should be no confrontation especially during the war,” the scholar believes.
Why Has the Volhynia Issue Become Relevant Again in 2025?
First, Poland in 2025 is one of Ukraine’s key allies, and any historical dispute can influence the political climate in the region. Second, politicians of both countries must consider societal expectations: for many Poles, the Volhynia issue is not only history but also a personal tragedy. Third, the exhumations themselves are seen as a symbolic gesture of reconciliation both politically and on a human level.
The Volhynia Tragedy: A Brief Historical Context
The Volhynia tragedy was a series of ethnic cleansings and mass killings in 1943-44, when in Western Ukraine and territories now part of Poland (Volhynia, Lviv region, Chełm region), units of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) and the Polish Home Army (AK) fought for control of the region. At the peak (summer 1943), various estimates say 40,000 to 100,000 Poles were killed, and tens of thousands of Ukrainians died in retaliatory punitive actions by Polish formations.
The reasons for the tragedy lie in a policy of mutual violence, deep historical grievances, actions by Soviet and Nazi special services, and the atmosphere of occupation and impunity.
Poland has officially recognized the Volhynia tragedy as genocide. Ukrainian historians acknowledge the responsibility of OUN-UPA, but note that the events were a consequence of years of discrimination, interethnic hostility, and provocations.
Truth as a Path to Reconciliation
In 2025, the Volhynia issue returned to the spotlight, but this time not as a tool of political pressure, but as a chance for honest dialogue. Karol Nawrocki’s call for large-scale exhumations and an open conversation about the past is a signal to both sides. Reconciliation is only possible when history ceases to be a weapon and becomes a platform for meeting two truths.
“We call not for revenge, but for remembrance. For the cross, for the grave, for truth,” – these words of Poland’s new president set the tone for the coming years: honesty, dignity, and a shared search for reconciliation.
About the Author
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