Ukrainian Expedition Launches Search And Exhumation Work In Poland

The expedition started surveying a forested area in the Carpathians near the village of Yurkova (now Jureczkowa) in the Subcarpathian Voivodeship. It is believed that up to 18 soldiers of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), who died in combat with the Polish People's Army in 1947, may be buried there. According to Ukrainian experts, the UPA fighters were defending the local Ukrainian civilian population from forced deportation.

Rainy weather complicated the first day of the search, but the team used equipment to begin removing layers of soil-up to one meter deep-in search of possible burial traces near a previously installed metal cross.

The Ukrainian team will continue the search until October 4. If remains are discovered, exhumation will begin and may last up to a month.

The battle in the Jureczkowa village took place on March 4, 1947, but at a location farther from the current search site. It remains unclear how the fallen UPA fighters were transported-whether by carts or otherwise-and who was responsible for the burial.

Before World War II, the village belonged to Dobromyl County in the Lviv Voivodeship. It was predominantly inhabited by Ukrainian Greek Catholics. In September 1939, following the arrival of the Red Army, the village was annexed by the USSR and became part of Drohobych region.

After the war ended in 1945, the village was transferred to Poland. The Ukrainian population in the area was forcibly resettled, but the UPA, composed of local Ukrainians, resisted.

As reported by Ukrinform, on September 6 in the Ternopil region, a reburial ceremony was held for remains discovered during search operations in the former village of Puzhnyky. The event was attended by officials from Ukraine and Poland, as well as around 40 descendants of former Puzhnyky residents.

Deputy Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications Andrii Nadzhos announced that the Ukrainian expedition would begin search and exhumation work in the Polish village of Jureczkowa on September 30.

According to Nadzhos, preliminary findings suggest the remains of approximately 20 UPA fighters may be located in Jureczkowa. This estimate is based on research conducted by Ukrainian historians.

In total, the Polish side has approved search and exhumation work at four locations.

Photo credit: RFE/RL

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