Ukrainian, Polish experts complete joint exhumation work in Ostrivky, Volia Ostrovetska
Joint Ukrainian-Polish exhumation work has been completed in Volyn region on the territory of the former villages of Ostrivky and Volia Ostrovetska, which are now part of Rivne rural community in Kovel district, according to the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance.
"During the exhumation investigations on the territory of the former village of Volia Ostrovetska, the remains of 48 people were found, and on the territory of the former village of Ostrivky, the remains of six people were found. One set of remains was exhumed in the village of Ostrivky, near the cemetery across from the memorial; however, the period during which the burial took place is still being determined. The exhumed remains included those of men, women, and children. "During the work, samples were collected for DNA analysis," the statement reads.
The investigation was conducted by specialists from the Specialized Institution "Volyn Antiquities" LLC together with representatives of the Institute of National Remembrance of the Republic of Poland and the Medical University of Wrocław. The experts recovered the remains of local residents who tragically perished in August 1943.
Professional oversight of the research process and the anthropologist's work was provided by the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance, with the involvement of specialists from Lviv Regional Council's municipal enterprise "Dolia." Permission to carry out this work was granted by the State Interagency Commission on Commemorating Participants in the Anti-Terrorist Operation, Victims of War, and Political Repression at a meeting in June of this year chaired by Oleksandr Alferov.
All recovered remains will be solemnly reburied at the Catholic cemetery in the former village of Ostrivky.