--- title: "No mass graves of WWII victims found in Puzhnyky: what Ukrainian and Polish specialists discovered" description: "Ukrainian and Polish specialists have completed a stage of searching for the remains of WWII victims in the former village of Puzhnyky: no mass graves were found, but the foundation of a chapel and other objects were revealed." date: 2026-11-08T12:08:57.160Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/puzhnyky-wwii-remains-search tags: [volhynia-tragedy, ukraine-poland, wwii-victims, forensic-archaeology, ternopil-oblast] author: "Marina Slivenko" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # No mass graves of WWII victims found in Puzhnyky: what Ukrainian and Polish specialists discovered ![A police officer in a protective mask inspects an excavation site in the forest, cordoned off with warning tape.](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/08/puzhnyky-poisk-ostankov-vtoroy-mirovoy/puzhnyky-poisk-ostankov-vtoroy-mirovoy-1.webp) ## Key Points - The latest stage of search operations by Ukrainian and Polish specialists has concluded in the former village of Puzhnyky, Ternopil Oblast. - No mass graves were found; 36 test trenches were dug over an area of about half a hectare. - Remains of three objects were revealed: likely the foundation of a cemetery chapel, a utility structure, and masonry that might be part of a road. - LiDAR scanning is planned to continue the search; permission for the procedure is currently being processed. - Exhumations in the former villages of Ostrivky and Volia Ostrovetska were completed in early August, and 55 Polish victims of the Volyn tragedy were reburied. A team of Ukrainian and Polish specialists has completed the latest stage of search operations in the former village of Puzhnyky, Ternopil Oblast. During the survey in the northeastern part of the old cemetery, no mass graves were discovered, although experts recorded several other objects related to the site's history. This was reported to Ukrinform by the specialized institution "Volyn Antiquities". ### What the test trenches revealed According to the institution, the expedition participants used machinery to dig 36 test trenches over an area of about half a hectare. As a result, they managed to determine the boundaries of the cemetery and find the remains of three objects. Preliminarily, as reported by "Volyn Antiquities", these include the foundation of a cemetery chapel where the deceased were mourned before burial, as well as a utility structure. In addition, masonry was found that may be part of a road. ### Complex terrain as an obstacle "Volyn Antiquities" emphasized that Puzhnyky is a difficult place for search operations: the area is hilly, overgrown with forest and bushes. This complicates both mechanical survey and the interpretation of results, which explains why no mass graves were recorded at this stage. ### LiDAR scanning as the next step To continue researching the Puzhnyky area, plans are to apply the LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) method, a modern way of scanning the terrain which, according to the specialists, will help in the search for mass graves. At the time of publication, permission for such work is being processed. ### Context: exhumations in Volyn and handover of sites by Poland Work in Puzhnyky is continuing against the backdrop of a broader campaign of search and exhumation efforts. In early August, exhumation work was completed in the former villages of Ostrivky and Volia Ostrovetska in Volyn, where Ukrainian and Polish specialists recovered the remains of residents who died in August 1943. Previously, Poland provided Ukraine with a list of new sites for search and exhumation work. ### Reburial of 55 victims Also in August, the reburial of 55 Polish victims of the Volyn tragedy took place in Volyn. The ceremony was held at the cemetery of the former village of Ostrivky, where, according to the participants, the residents died; the remains were discovered during this year's exhumations. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [В Пужниках Тернопольской области не обнаружили захоронений жертв Волынской трагедии](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/puzhnikah-ternopilshchini-viyavili-pohovan-1794139155.html) - Primary source: completion of work in Puzhnyky, absence of mass graves, 36 trenches, discovery of chapel foundation, LiDAR plans, context of Volyn exhumations and reburial of 55 victims. ## FAQ ### Were mass graves found in Puzhnyky? No. According to the "Volyn Antiquities" institution, no mass graves could be located; instead, remains of three objects, including a likely cemetery chapel foundation, were found. ### What work did the specialists carry out in Puzhnyky? They dug 36 test trenches in the northeastern part of the old cemetery over half a hectare, determined the cemetery boundaries, and found remnants of three objects. ### What method is planned for the next phase? LiDAR scanning (terrain scanning) is planned to assist in locating mass graves; permission for this is currently being obtained.