On August 8, 2026, a historic event took place in Ternopil, marking the consolidation of Ukrainian society's efforts to restore historical justice. During the founding assembly, the first All-Ukrainian Public Organization "Memory and Justice" was officially registered. The association unites the descendants of victims of repressions, deportations, and forced resettlements carried out by Polish authorities in the 20th century. The initiative has garnered widespread public resonance, serving as a response to current challenges in the sphere of historical diplomacy between Kyiv and Warsaw.
Leadership and Mission of the New Organization
At the founding assembly, the well-known public and political figure Taras Hrebeniak was elected head of the newly formed association. In his welcoming speech, he clearly outlined the organization's direction, emphasizing that it was not created "against anyone," but rather as a tool for seeking and affirming the truth. According to Hrebeniak, strong Ukrainian-Polish relations can be built exclusively on a foundation of mutual respect and an honest view of the historical past. Veteran of the Russo-Ukrainian war Serhiy Hodlevskyi was elected Deputy Chairman of the organization, noting that preserving and studying the facts of repressions is critically important for restoring historical justice.
Historical Context: From "Pacification" to Operation "Vistula"
The activities of the new association are based on a deep analysis of the tragic pages of 20th-century history. In particular, attention is paid to the events of the 1930s, when Polish authorities conducted a massive repressive campaign in Eastern Galicia, known as "pacification." During these actions, the Polish police and army carried out mass arrests, beatings, and searches, as well as closing and destroying Ukrainian cultural and educational institutions. After World War II, repressive policies continued under the auspices of the Polish communist authorities. The culmination of these events was Operation "Vistula" in 1947, within the framework of which the Ukrainian population of Lemkivshchyna, Kholmshchyna, Nadsianie, and Podlasie was forcibly deported to northwestern Poland.
Relevance of Historical Issues in Kyiv-Warsaw Relations
The creation of the association takes place against the backdrop of intensified discussions around historical issues between Ukraine and Poland. In recent years, the dialogue has been complicated by a number of conflicts, including the deprivation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle. Warsaw expressed dissatisfaction after the Ukrainian leadership bestowed the honorary title "named after the Heroes of the UPA" on one of the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Experts note that the emergence of a public organization engaged in systematizing facts about Polish repressions could become a new factor of pressure in negotiations on the mutual recognition of historical traumas. Recently, Ukraine and Poland completed the exhumation of victims of the Volyn tragedy in two villages in Volyn, which also testifies to the ongoing work on archives and mass graves.
