Sybiha called on Poland not to allow Kremlin to use Volyn tragedy to drive wedge between Ukrainians and Poles
Ukraine’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Andrii Sybiha, called on Ukrainians and Poles not to allow Russia to exploit historical disputes, in particular the Volyn tragedy, to undermine relations between the two countries. He emphasised that Kyiv and Warsaw had already made significant progress on issues of historical memory.
This is reported by Rzeczpospolita, as relayed by Censor.NET.
According to the minister, Moscow is attempting to undermine the solidarity that Poland has shown towards Ukraine since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, and to sow mistrust between neighbouring nations.
Sybiha emphasised that Ukrainians and Poles should determine the nature of their relations for themselves, without allowing Russia to influence them through historical disputes.
"Our peoples will decide for themselves on the substance, level and tone of our mutual relations. We will not surrender this right to the enemy," he said.
The Foreign Minister also warned against exploiting anti-Ukrainian sentiment in domestic political struggles.
"Anti-Ukrainian rhetoric must not become a tool in political struggles. It is precisely these divisions that Moscow is counting on," said Sybiha.
The Volyn Tragedy and Historical Memory
The minister acknowledged that the Volyn tragedy remains a painful chapter in the shared history of Ukraine and Poland.
According to him, Ukraine understands the desire of Polish families to establish the truth about the deaths of their loved ones, to honour the memory of the victims with dignity, and to ensure they are given a proper burial.
At the same time, he recalled the Ukrainians who, during that same historical period, lost their lives or were subjected to forced resettlement.
Sybiha emphasised that the memory of one people should not negate the memory of another.
According to the minister, it was precisely this approach that enabled Ukraine and Poland to move from statements to practical steps in resolving historical issues.
"We have made historic progress. This is the first time that measures in this area have been on such a scale," he emphasised.
At the same time, the Foreign Secretary urged that the Kremlin should not be allowed to exploit the grief of the families of the victims to exacerbate tensions between the countries.
He emphasised that the search for historical truth does not mean forgetting the past, but requires mutual respect and a willingness to engage in dialogue.
What led up to it
In July 2026, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the opening of the archives of the SSU and Ukrainian intelligence relating to the events in Volyn.
In August, Ukrainian and Polish experts completed the exhumation work in the area of the former villages of Ostrivky and Volia Ostrovetska.
These events formed part of the joint efforts by Ukraine and Poland to research historical events and honour the memory of those who lost their lives.
