Volhynian Tragedy. Yaroslav Hrytsak explained why he signed the controversial communiqué of Ukrainian and Polish historians.

Ukrainian and Polish historians confirm the importance of dialogue between the two countries

In December 2024, Polish and Ukrainian historians signed a joint communiqué regarding complex issues in the history of both countries. Professor Yaroslav Hrytsak from the Lviv Catholic University emphasized the importance of this step in developing dialogue among scholars.

«Let them look at my works. And to say that (the Ukrainian historians - signatories) do not deal with Polish themes, is, to put it mildly, an understatement. I have devoted my whole life to Polish themes, Ukrainian-Jewish themes, because I see how Ukrainian history is neglected, how Polish themes are neglected. This is outright nonsense, and I am sorry that my opponents use such low-quality arguments.»

Professor Hrytsak acknowledged that the communiqué is not a flawless statement and that each signatory expressed their comments on the text. However, the main significance lies in the fact of signing, which indicates the historians' readiness for cooperation.

«The statement has a very important element. Yes, it is an imperfect statement. Each of us (the signatories) has remarks on this statement. But we believe that what matters more is that it has been released. This is the first point. Secondly, this statement was supposed to precede the meeting of historians. Thus, the signing of our communiqué means that we are ready to talk to each other. There is no Ukrainian and Polish side in it. Perhaps, this is the only major flaw of this statement. It is a statement from specific Ukrainian and Polish historians by name,» noted Yaroslav Hrytsak.

Historians discuss that any use of the topic of the Volhynian tragedy in political discussions is harmful and irrelevant. They acknowledge the existence of crimes committed by both sides and support an open conversation about it.

In the first half of December 2024, a group of Polish and Ukrainian historians signed a joint communiqué concerning the controversial aspects of Ukrainian-Polish history. The text of the statement addressed the evaluations of events from the 20th century: the period of the UPA’s activity, the First and Second World Wars.

Among the signatories are 10 professors from Ukraine: Ihor Hyrich (Kyiv), Yaroslav Hrytsak (Lviv), Oleksandr Zaytsev (Lviv), Leonid Zashkilniak (Lviv), Ihor Iliushin (Kyiv), Stanislav Kulchytsky (Kyiv), Mykola Kucherpa (Lutsk), Oleksandr Lysenkо (Kyiv), Volodymyr Trofymovych (Ostroh), Yuriy Shapoval (Kyiv). Later, Mykola Kucherpa and Ihor Hyrich withdrew their signatures. 

A number of Ukrainian historians criticized the signatories. In particular, they pointed out that the text contains not a single word about the occupation of Eastern Galicia by the Poles, and nothing is mentioned about Polish diversions in Carpathian Ukraine. Furthermore, they criticized the thesis that the main enemies for the Ukrainian uprising in 1942-1943 were indeed the Poles and Soviets, rather than the Germans.

The authors of the communiqué accuse the creators of the November act and the Ukrainian Galician Army of declaring their state in 1918 within certain borders «unilaterally», that is, without asking for the Poles' permission. Historian Volodymyr Birchak was among those who made such accusations. Professor Bohdan Hud wrote that he even convinced some historians not to sign the communiqué. 

The Volhynian tragedy remains one of the most complex issues in relations between Ukraine and Poland. The views of both countries on the causes, responsibility, and number of victims diverge, especially regarding Polish and Ukrainian victims and accusations against the UPA of mass killings of Poles in Volhynia.

In 2017, a moratorium was imposed on the exhumation of bodies in response to the inaction of the Polish authorities regarding the protection of Ukrainian burials in Poland. However, after Volodymyr Zelensky was elected Prime Minister in 2019, the ban was lifted, allowing Polish researchers to start working in Ukraine. Accordingly, Poland restored the monument to Ukrainian soldiers in the Monastery, but did not restore the inscriptions with the names of the dead.

On January 10, the Prime Minister of Poland, Donald Tusk, announced a «breakthrough» in the issue of exhuming the victims of the Volhynian tragedy and noted that there is already a decision.