Yaroslav Onyshchuk, Ph.D. in History, archaeologist at Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, and deputy director of the Lviv Regional Council’s “Dolia” municipal enterprise, reported this to a Ukrinform correspondent.

“Today, Ukrainian and Polish experts completed exhumation work on the site of the former village of Ostrivky, located in the Rivne community of Volyn region. In a mass grave discovered in April of this year during search operations, the remains of six people were found and brought to the surface. The grave measures two by three meters,” said Yaroslav Onyshchuk.

According to him, Roman Catholic medallions, buttons, beads, a pocket knife, and men’s and women’s shoes were found alongside the remains.

The mass grave in the former village of Ostrivky marks the final stage of exhumation investigations in this area. Previously, experts exhumed the remains of 48 people from a burial pit in the former village of Volia Ostrovetska, as well as a single grave located in the forest across from the Ostrivky village cemetery.

“No accompanying artifacts were found in the single grave, so more information about it will only become available after anthropological studies. At this time, we cannot say whether this person died during World War II or at some other time,” added Onyshchuk.

In total, Ukrainian and Polish experts will be working in the area of the former villages of Ostrivky and Volia Ostrovetska until August 7. Once the exhumation is complete, anthropologists will continue their work.

“The experts are working in a tent camp. They are cleaning, examining, describing, measuring, and photographing the remains. This is a rather complex and lengthy process. Starting next week, they will also collect samples for DNA analysis and the identification of the deceased,” the researcher noted.

In parallel with the exhumation, search operations were conducted in the vicinity of the village of Volia Ostrovetska. So far, no new graves have been found at this location.

Read also:Exhumation work completed in Volia Ostrovetska,

Volynregion, remains of 48 people found

The remains that have been found and exhumed are scheduled to be reburied at the end of summer in a local cemetery.

As reported by Ukrinform, exhumation work in the territory of the former villages of Ostrivky and Volia Ostrovetska began on July 14. On the Ukrainian side, the work is being carried out by a team from the specialized institution “Volyn Antiquities,” while on the Polish side, it is being conducted by staff from the Institute of National Remembrance of Poland and the Medical University of Wrocław. At the request of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance, specialists in search operations from “Dolia,” a municipal enterprise of the Lviv Regional Council, are providing oversight and advisory support.

Photo: 10th Institute of National Remembrance, archive