In Lviv, the remains of Polish soldiers were exhumed: identification tokens were found.

Completion of the expedition for the exhumation of burials in Lviv

According to inkorr.com: In Lviv, at the former cemetery in Zboіshchi, a joint Ukrainian-Polish expedition aimed at exhuming burials has concluded.

According to the press service of the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, many servicemen of the Polish Army were killed during the defense of Lviv against the German army in September 1939.

Discovered burials and their features

Experts worked for more than four weeks. During the work, two graves were found, each measuring approximately 2.5 by 4 meters, with about a two-meter distance between them. According to archival data, the first pit contains soldiers who died on September 12, while the second contains military personnel who fell a few days later.

Research showed that both burials could contain between 40 and 50 individuals, although the exact number is difficult to determine due to overlaps with later civilian burials from the 1950s and 1960s.

'Honoring the fallen is our moral duty to the past and the future. Ukraine consistently supports the memory dialogue that unites the Ukrainian and Polish peoples, opening the way to mutual respect and understanding. We are open to continuing this work - both on our territory and in Poland, where search works are planned in several locations,' emphasized Andriy Nadzhos, Deputy Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications.

Found items and further plans

During the expedition, specialists found that all the deceased were in military uniform and had personal items with them: toothbrushes, mirrors, and religious medals. They also found 11 tokens with information about the deceased. However, shoes and belts were missing, likely taken as trophies after the battle.

In addition to Polish military items, experts also discovered German items, including part of a helmet and fragments of a German tag, confirming local residents' testimonies about possible graves of German soldiers in this area.

'This work is of immense importance for historical memory. We see confirmation of events from 1939, we see human stories through the personal belongings of the soldiers. It is important for the city that Ukraine and Poland are together restoring the memory of a tragic past and that we do this with great respect for each found person. For Lviv residents, I will say that after the expedition is completed, the city will tidy up the area, and it will remain a green zone,' said Yevhen Boyko, head of the executive committee of the Lviv City Council.

After the exhumation, specialists took DNA samples for identifying the deceased and returning their remains to their families. Reburial is scheduled for the first week of October at the cemetery in Mostyska, Lviv region, following ritual traditions.

Also, at the end of September, excavations will begin in the village of Yurechkova near Przemyśl, where they expect to find soldiers of the Ukrainian Insurgency Army.

This expedition has become an important step in honoring the memory of the fallen, emphasizing the significance of historical memory for the Ukrainian and Polish peoples. Joint efforts in identifying and reburial of soldiers who died in battle help restore their stories and pass this memory to future generations.