Human remains exhumed at site of controversial World War II massacres in Ukraine: "Each of them had their dreams"
August 3, 2026 / 10:33 AM EDT / CBS/AFP
TL;DR
- Archaeologists are excavating mass graves in western Ukraine from WWII-era massacres that involved tens of thousands of civilians.
- The exhumations are a joint Polish-Ukrainian effort aimed at identifying victims and fostering reconciliation between the two countries.
- Disagreements persist over the historical narrative of the Volyn massacres, with Poland labeling it 'genocide' and Ukraine viewing the UPA as freedom fighters.
- Remains of over 50 individuals have been recovered, with an estimated 30-40% being children, though none have been identified yet.
- Recent political tensions, including naming a military unit after the UPA, have strained Polish-Ukrainian relations.
- Both Polish and Ukrainian leaders see the exhumations as a positive step towards improving diplomatic ties and overcoming historical grievances.