Oleksandr Alfyorov, Head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance

Search operations have begun in the village of Uhly in Ukraine’s Rivne region to locate the remains of local residents from the World War II period. The work is being carried out by a mixed Ukrainian-Polish team, with initial results expected in the coming days.

The development has drawn significant public attention in both Ukraine and Poland, as it touches on a complex historical legacy that has long strained relations between Kyiv and Warsaw—and one that Moscow continues to exploit in an attempt to drive a wedge between the two nations.

In an interview with Ukrinform, Head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance Oleksandr Alfyorov assessed the current status of Ukrainian-Polish agreements on search and exhumation efforts, outlined Kyiv’s plans for cooperation with Polish counterparts, and highlighted steps and gestures that could further strengthen ties between the two countries’ remembrance institutions.

ESCALATION OF RUSSIAN DISINFORMATION IN THE HISTORICAL DOMAIN

Q: Mr. Alfyorov, search operations began on March 23 in Uhly (Rivne region). Further work is planned in Huta Pieniacka (Lviv region), as well as a second phase of excavations in Puzhnyky (Ternopil region).

How would you assess the current dynamics of cooperation with the Polish side in search and exhumation efforts, and what outcomes do you expect from these works in both Ukraine and Poland?

A: Today, we can state clearly: the progress achieved over the past year is unprecedented in the last decade. Therefore, it would be inaccurate to suggest that the pace or scale of current efforts is insufficient.

We are acting in line with the agreements reached by the mixed working group in December, as well as the outcomes of the meeting between Presidents Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine and Karol Nawrocki of Poland.

Permits are being issued in line with the readiness of documentation. I would note that the Polish side is likewise preparing the permits we have requested.

Last year, we conducted search operations in Yurechkove (near Przemyśl — ed.). The Polish side ensured security and stability throughout the process. We are providing the same conditions in Ukraine, within our competencies. It is worth recalling that during search operations in Lviv, the city came under one of the largest Russian air attacks.

It is important to emphasize that even the preparation of documentation—handled by the Ministry of Culture and the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance—is an extremely challenging work. For a month, the temperature in my office lowered to minus seven degrees Celsius. Due to constant power outages, our equipment was inoperable, and heating pipes burst. Despite these conditions, we continue not only to carry out essential administrative work to sustain the functioning of the state, but also to honor the agreements reached with our Polish partners.

It should be understood that these permits reflect a substantial volume of work, and we will continue to carry it out. Permits will be issued as documentation is completed.

At the same time, Russian disinformation in the historical domain has intensified significantly. We are witnessing the active spread of anti-Ukrainian narratives. The case involving the Virtuti Militari order is highly illustrative.

Q: You are referring to the decoration of a Polish officer killed in the so-called Katyn massacre, which was recently discovered on a Ukrainian online auction and widely publicized by Russian propaganda. Can this be considered a provocation by Moscow?

A: It was an anti-Ukrainian provocation that clearly bears the hallmarks of Russian involvement. Within a day of the information emerging, I had established the full picture and contacted the Polish side. The item—whether a replica or a forgery—will be handed over to them. Many individuals were involved in resolving the situation.

Q: Why would anyone forge such an order, given that the original is known to remain with the officer’s family?

A: That is indeed an interesting question, as in theory there should be no need to replicate an original that is still held by the family. It is possible that this copy was produced by the officer himself at the time. Alternatively, it may be a replica created for an older collection, with the identification number assigned at random—such cases are known. In any case, the matter has been resolved: the copy will be transferred to the Ambassador of Poland in Ukraine.

SEARCH OPERATIONS ARE A MASSIVE UNDERTAKING FOR UKRAINE

Q: When can we expect search operations to begin at Ukrainian memorial sites in Poland?

A: We will be submitting the necessary applications. I would also stress that, despite the extremely difficult conditions in which we are operating, Ukraine has allocated funding to support search operations on its side.

Q: Polish experts note that the Polish Ministry of Culture is also providing grants for search work in Ukraine.

A: Yes, they fund research projects carried out by their teams and can partially provide search groups with equipment resources. At the same time, the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance is the sole contracting authority for such work, as this is a matter of state responsibility. No other country can commission search or excavation activities on Ukrainian territory. We contract Ukrainian search teams, which in turn cooperate with Polish institutions.

Polish media sometimes present a distorted picture, suggesting that excavations are conducted exclusively by the Polish side. It is important to understand that Ukraine is at war, and the funds allocated for these efforts could, for example, be used to purchase drones for the front. However, priorities must be set, and the true cost of search and exhumation work must be recognized.

Excavations also require significant efforts by the Ukrainian government to ensure security. The National Police, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), and regional military administrations are all involved, as the risk of provocations remains high. It is worth recalling that Russian “Shahed” drones have also entered Polish airspace—an indication of probing actions by Russia. This underscores the level of risk involved.

In reality, these search operations represent a major national effort. In essence, we are reallocating both personnel and resources from the front. Yet Ukraine is a state guided by honor and dignity, and we are fulfilling our commitments.

Our next step is to submit applications to carry out search operations in Poland at the agreed locations.

In this context, the Ukrainian side will prioritize specific sites. While there is already approval from the Polish side, additional permits are still required from forestry authorities, as well as from the gmina (local administrative unit) and the voivodeship—making this a lengthy process. The current focus includes Yurechkove, Przemyśl, and Sahryń, [Poland], as well as Laskiv, [Ukraine].

Honoring the fallen is a matter of principle for us. Even as a country at war, with an economy operating under severe constraints, we continue to honor and remember the names of those who perished during World War II and in its aftermath, as a result of the clash of multiple totalitarian regimes.

Today, we are doing everything we can to ensure that the agreements reached between Ukraine and Poland are fully implemented.

UKRAINE AND POLAND: A RELATIONSHIP ROOTED IN HISTORY

Q: Have you already met with your Polish counterpart, Acting Head of the Polish Institute of National Remembrance, Karol Polejowski?

A: There has been no official meeting so far. However, we did meet Mr. Polejowski during the meeting of our Presidents, as well as at the reburial ceremonies in Puzhnyky and Mostyska.

I am ready to meet even on weekends, as I live and work like Ukrainian soldiers—without days off. Recently, the Polish side suggested that I visit Warsaw on February 24. However, in Ukraine this is the Day of National Prayer, and it is important to be in Kyiv on that day. I believe this may simply not have been taken into account by the Polish side.

Q: Do you expect such a meeting to take place any time soon?

A: I am open to dialogue and to meetings. For me, Poland is a historical friend of Ukraine, and I remain open to engagement at any time—even on weekends. If Mr. Polejowski were to visit Kyiv, it would be a strong and meaningful gesture—one that would underscore Poland’s role as an ally and reinforce the position of the Polish Institute of National Remembrance in Ukraine as a partner ready for dialogue and cooperation.

Q: Are relations with the Polish side among the top priorities for the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance?

A: Absolutely. First and foremost, our relations have stabilized. I am open to dialogue and ready to accept an invitation to visit Warsaw—even on a Saturday or Sunday. I came to the Institute from the military, so I have no interest in political maneuvering. I am far removed from insinuations, half-measures, or politics as such.

I speak about Ukraine’s victory and the triumph of European common sense in the war against the Russian aggressor. If some Europeans still lack a full understanding of what Russia represents, then no one understands it better than the Poles.

Today, we have reached a point where we can unite and become the shield of Europe—the Baltic–Black Sea alliance once envisioned by Symon Petliura and Józef Piłsudski.

Yurii Banakhevych led this conversation

Photo: Oleksandr Klymenko