Ukraine, Poland conclude WWII search without finding mass graves photo

A joint expedition by Ukraine and Poland to locate the remains of victims of World War II has concluded in the Rivne region, with no mass graves discovered.

According to the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, the search operation ended on March 27 in the village of Uhly. The work was carried out by specialists from the Lviv Regional Council utility “Dolya” together with researchers from the Pomeranian Medical University in Poland.

The team surveyed more than 1,000 square meters, including the grounds of a former German evangelical cemetery and adjacent areas where local accounts suggested that villagers killed in 1943 might have been buried.

During the expedition, researchers identified the site of a former village chapel and uncovered German civilian burials dating from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. They also documented a single male burial, though the circumstances and timing of his death remain unclear and will require further examination. No evidence of mass burials was found.

Deputy Culture Minister Ivan Verbytskyi said the joint effort reflects a shared commitment to clarifying difficult chapters of history and honoring the victims. “Ukraine and Poland are working together to establish the truth about difficult moments in our shared history and to honor the memory of the victims. Such cooperation strengthens trust between our peoples,” he said.

By Tamilla Hasanova