Poland commemorates Volhynia Massacres

By Ahmet Gencturk

ANKARA (AA) - Poland commemorated the Volhynia Massacres where 100,000 Poles were massacred by Ukrainian nationalist extremists from 1943 – 1945.

President Andrzej Duda said the massacres could be classified as a “genocide,” according to state-run news agency PAP.

“Because the aim was ethnic cleansing,” he said at a commemoration ceremony Monday in the nation’s capital, Warsaw.

Duda said the truth should be spoken with a strong and clear voice but warned that truth-seeking should not create an atmosphere of revenge toward Ukrainians by Poles.

Polish support for Ukraine in their struggle against Russian attacks is the best proof that relations between the two nations are improving, he added.

Historians estimate that 100,000 Polish nationals were killed in the massacre, including 40,000 - 60,000 in Volhynia, 20,000 - 40,000 in Eastern Galicia and at least 4,000 in the territory of current Poland.

About 10,000 - 12,000 Ukrainians were murdered during Polish retaliatory operations by the spring of 1945, according to Poland's National Remembrance Institute.​​​​​​​