This is an issue that is one of the foundations for our hearts, minds and national dignity, said Deputy Minister of Defense Cezary Tomczyk on Radio ZET. He also confessed that his great-grandfather “was murdered in the east.” – He was a Polish officer, then a policeman, he is probably on the Belarusian list. I still don't know what happened to him. I have the right to find out – added Tomczyk.
On Tuesday Ukraine confirmed that there are no obstacles to conducting search and exhumation work on its territory. The decision to lift the moratorium on the search and exhumation of the remains of Polish victims of the Volhynia crime, in force since 2017, was announced during a joint press conference of the ministers of foreign affairs of Poland and Ukraine. Radosław Sikorski and Andriy Sybiha.
READ ALSO: The heads of Polish and Ukrainian diplomacy about the exhumations. “There are no obstacles”
On Wednesday, the deputy minister of defense Cezary Tomczyk he said on Radio ZET that the issue of exhumation of the victims of the Volhynia massacre is of “fundamental importance”. – We heard a lot of different words from the government PISbut nothing came of it. Today we have a new head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine who is reaching an agreement with the government Donald Tusk and Radosław Sikorski, an issue that is one of the foundations for our hearts, minds and national dignity – said the deputy head of the Ministry of National Defense.
Tomczyk believes that “this case would allow us to build Polish-Ukrainian relations on a completely different level.” He also pointed out that Ukraine's decision was made during the ongoing war there and this should be appreciated. – Ukraine is in a difficult situation – air raids, full-scale war – and yet we have such a declaration. It should be appreciated, said Tomczyk.
Deputy Minister of National Defense Cezary TomczykRafał Guz/PAP
According to the deputy defense minister, we have to wait “a few days” for these matters to be discussed at the diplomatic level. – I would like people who will go and participate in the work not to be at risk of death, considering what is happening there – said the deputy head of the Ministry of National Defense.
Cezary Tomczyk also revealed his family history. – I have never said it publicly, but my great-grandfather was murdered in the East. He was a Polish officer, then a policeman, and is probably on the Belarusian list of those murdered in the east. I still don't know what happened to him. I have the right to find out – he said on Radio ZET.
Tomczyk: I have the right to find out what happened to my great-grandfatherRadio ZET
The heads of Polish and Ukrainian diplomacy about the exhumations
On Tuesday, the heads of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Poland and Ukraine – Radosław Sikorski and Andriy Sybiha – met in Warsaw. Sikorski quoted the ministers' statement after the meeting. – Ukraine confirms that there are no obstacles to Polish state institutions and private entities conducting research in cooperation with relevant Ukrainian institutions exploration and exhumation work on the territory of Ukrainein accordance with Ukrainian legislation and declares its readiness to positively consider applications in these matters, he said.
Sibiha: we are working on mechanisms for exhumationTVN24
Andriy Sybiha also said that Ukrainians and Poles are interested in ensuring that there are no misunderstandings between us. – Every family has the right to honor the memory of their ancestors – emphasized the head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Polish side has been demanding for years that the Ukrainian authorities unblock the ban on searching and exhuming Polish victims of the Volhynia crime.
Main photo source: Rafał Guz/PAP