Poland rebury WWII soldiers in Ukraine

Poland held a solemn ceremony to rebury the remains of soldiers who died during the Second World War in Mostyska, Ukraine. The event featured a procession with rows of coffins, marked only with the inscription "an unknown soldier of the Polish army who died defending his homeland in September 1939." Priests conducted funerary rites in the presence of military delegations and officials from both Poland and Ukraine.

Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olexandr Mischenko, spoke at the ceremony, highlighting the bravery of these young soldiers who fought against aggressors and noting their significance as an example for contemporary Ukrainians facing ongoing Russian aggression.

Poland's permission to exhume these remains was granted this year after years of negotiations regarding the historical relationship between the two nations. Marta Cienkowska, Poland's Minister of Culture and National Heritage, emphasized the importance of being able to properly bury soldiers who fought for their freedom.

The reburial serves not only to honor the fallen but also aims to facilitate reconciliation between Poland and Ukraine, following years of tension stemming from their historical narratives. The remains were previously exhumed from sites around Lviv, where many soldiers had rested in unmarked or poorly documented graves since 1939, when they fought against advancing German forces.

The coordinated effort to recover these wartime remains involved extensive collaboration between Polish and Ukrainian specialists, starting excavations in the Zboiska district, where around 40 sets of remains were uncovered, alongside military insignia and other artifacts aiding identification efforts.

Officials from both nations described the ceremony as a significant gesture of respect and a step towards healing past disputes over historical memory. The Polish delegation expressed gratitude for Ukraine's cooperation, while Ukrainian officials noted that honoring the fallen is essential for acknowledging their shared history. Plans are in place to continue searches in other regions, with the ultimate goal of ensuring all wartime dead receive appropriate burial sites and recognition. This initiative reflects a mutual desire to foster understanding and respect between the two neighboring countries.