Poland marks 83rd anniversary of Volhynia massacre amid tensions with Ukraine over UPA unit

Poland on Saturday commemorated thousands of Poles killed by Ukrainian nationalists during the Volhynia massacres of World War II, as renewed disputes over the wartime killings have fueled a diplomatic spat between Warsaw and Kyiv.

Officials marked the 83rd anniversary of the massacres, which began on 11 July 1943, when units of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) launched a wave of coordinated attacks against Polish civilians in Volhynia, now in northwestern Ukraine.

Monument to Be Built in Warsaw

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on Saturday that a monument would be built to commemorate the civilian victims.

"A Wall of Remembrance will be erected in Warsaw, with an eternal flame and the names of every victim who has been found and identified," he said.

Historical Context

The attacks remain one of the most contentious issues in Polish-Ukrainian relations. Estimates vary, but Polish historians say between 70,000 and 100,000 civilians were killed between 1943 and 1945 — a campaign the Polish parliament recognised as genocide in 2016. Reprisals by Polish underground forces are thought to have killed around 10,000 Ukrainians.

"We are here today to remember and to serve as a warning so that such an experience between the Polish and Ukrainian peoples will never be repeated," said Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz during the commemorations.

Renewed Tensions Between Warsaw and Kyiv

This year's ceremony took place against the backdrop of renewed tensions over wartime remembrance between the two countries.

• In May, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy approved the naming of a military unit after the "Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army" (UPA).
• This prompted Polish hard-right President Karol Nawrocki to strip Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest state honour.
• The European Parliament this week sided with Warsaw, adopting by 460 votes to 136 a resolution criticising Zelenskyy's decision as an "unnecessary and unprovoked escalation."

Tusk Calls for Unity

But Tusk struck a tone of unity on Saturday.

"Today we are responsible for our future and the safety of our children and grandchildren. This is a shared responsibility of Poland, Ukraine, and Europe. Today we need solidarity in the face of common threats, and solidarity is built on the foundations of truth, memory, and hope," Tusk said.

He added that Ukraine should resolve issues related to the Volhynia massacres as part of its path towards EU membership.

Continued Military Support

Despite the memorial dispute, Poland has continued to support Ukraine militarily. The Polish government confirmed this week that it had sent several US Patriot interceptors to Kyiv, a weapon Ukraine needs to ward off Russian ballistic missile attacks.