The Sejm practically unanimously adopted the Act establishing 11 July “National Day of Memory of Poles – Victims of Genocide by the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and Ukrainian Insurgency Army in east Lands of the Second Republic of Poland”. Since 2016, we have found in the calendar "National Day of Memory of Victims of Genocide made by Ukrainian Nationalists on citizens of the Second Republic of Poland". Of course, a state vacation is much more crucial than a day (a hartnik, a teacher, books, a child, women, etc.) The Act mentions Poles as victims and CNS and UPA, which are glorified in the Polish Ukraine – as perpetrators. I believe that next to the CNS and the UPA we should besides talk about Ukrainian neighbours without whom this crime could not have specified a dimension.
The Act states that the apogee of the crime took place in July 1943, and the day of July 11, erstwhile mass murders on the Polish population occurred in about a 100 towns, was considered symbolic. ‘Martyr death due to belonging to the Polish nation deserves to be remembered in the form of a day distinguished annually by the Polish state, in which the victims will be paid tribute“ – stressed in the text of the Act. It's hard to disagree. Of course, I am glad that after more than 80 years Poles inhumanally murdered by Ukrainians yet experienced a day of memory and reflection. However, we must not ask questions – the composition of specified a change of attitude among Members, and why only now?
It is fair to say that Members of the Polish People's organization (PSL) during the time Jarosław Kalinowski,Franciszek Józef Stefaniuk and Waldemar Pawlak They honestly appealed for the memory of the murdered Poles. A symbol of opposition and the stubbornness of the people was the MP who fought for these matters for decades Tadeusz Samborski. But not just the PSLs, she was Maria Teresa Berny (SLD), Stanisław Nicieja (SLD), Hanna Gucwińska (SLD) or Andrzej Zapalowski (KPN). However, the vast majority remained silent.
The time of war in Ukraine made almost everyone in parliament silent. And it must be said that the Polish People's organization besides did so. This shameful trend entered into place, especially erstwhile it tied its political destiny to a political freak named Poland 2050 Simon Holownia. The time of the Russian-Ukrainian War and the completely unreflexive policy of the authorities in Poland caused the Ukrainian genocide committed on our nation from 1939 to 1947 to be swept under the carpet.
The deficiency of consequence became a permit. Stepan Bandera, Roman Szuchewycz, Andrzej Szeptycki, Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, Ukrainian Povs Dance Army, 14th Division of Grenadiers Waffen SS became part of the historical code of our east neighbours. The authorities in Poland, led by president Andrzej Duda, surpassed their acceptance of the flagism of even many Ukrainians. Fear of becoming a “Russian onus” made many forget even the murdered members of their families.
The war, however, lasts a long time and a large part of society managed to tire. Ukrainians created in the media on superheroes and our brothers, very frequently turned out to be completely ungrateful and claimable people. The attitude of the Ukrainian leader led by Volodymyr Zelenski was more than insolent. Me and Many of my compatriots will forever associate modern Ukraine with the man receiving the Order of the White Eagle in a tracksuit with a trizub.
Politicians in the 3rd Polish Republic are most frequently guided by their own interests and social sentiments. They know that the Ukrainian card present is not much to be gained. The unwavering belief in pristine Ukraine remained only in a few, for example, Paul Blacksmith is Aleksandra Kwasniewski. present Ukraine is not a good bargaining chip. People are sick of the tremendous cost of the Russian-Ukrainian War. All hopes of naive Poles, who hoped for the favour of Ukrainian authorities in historical matters, were washed distant like soap bubbles. Even my most pro-Ukrainian friends dropped their heads erstwhile Kiev demanded the return of the UPA lauding board at the Monasterz.
Today most Poles have heard about Ukrainian genocide in Poles. And most know the victims of this crime don't have graves. They lie in fields, ditches, and dung pits. The vast majority of Poles frightened what they had learned and upset what was happening today. But this consciousness to people did not come alone. This is the hard and very ungrateful work of many Polish patriots for decades. In spite of all the powerful, they spread the uncomfortable fact about what happened in the Polish Borderlands from 1939 to 1947. I had the privilege of gathering many of them at the head of the Colonel John Niewiński and prof. Edward Prus. We owe much to our unbreakable nation: Fr Tadeusz Isakowicz Zaleski, Prof. Andrzej Zapalowski, Prof. Włodzimierz Osadczych, Prof. Wiktor Poliszczuk, Gen. Mirosław Hermaszewski, Dr. Lucynie Kulińska, Dr. Ewie Czasczko, Władysław Czałszko, Major Łukasz Kuźmich, Captain Stanisław Jastrzębski, Colonel Tadeusz Kowalczyk, Witold Zych, Małgorzata Zych, Zbigniew Walczak, Roman Fritz, Tadeusz Samborski, Stanisław Niciei, Maria Berna, Krzysztof Kołtun, Jano Skalski, Jan Engelgard, Witold Częczka, Adam Laughter, Andrzej Łukawski, Roland Dubowski And many others. Memory survived due to them, although it was not common at the time. It is especially crucial to remember all those who contributed to the construction of the Memorial of the Victims of Genocide in the east Borders.
Fortunately, this has changed in fresh years thanks to social media, which among many disadvantages have a immense plus mass. Katarzyna Sokołowska was able to usage them and the environment around her – Volyn Foundation We remember, Stow. “Always Faithful – You Polish” and the Polish Foundation “Poland in Poland Host”. I will not exaggerate the message that it was in a immense part of her unparalleled stubbornness that managed to break the conspiracy of silence in the subject of Ukrainian genocide. Her actions and distributed cognition on social media caused the tragedy of our nation to appear from the depths of oblivion. She's the 1 who deserves large thanks and support from us. It was the consistent actions of Catherine Sokolovska and Jack Międlar that caused the universality of the subject, and universality that established this planet by parliamentarians.
Members' vote for designation of 11 July "National Day of Memory of Poles – Victims of Genocide made by the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and Ukrainian Insurgency Army" is simply a cynical usage of current sentiments. It's completely obvious. The perfect parliamentarians can be counted there on the fingers of respective hands. I don't think anyone in their right head will believe in the miraculous conversion of the MPs of COPIS, Poland 2050 or the Left. We remember besides well their political declarations, moronic declarations and marches under abroad flags.
However, this should not be regrettable. The word of office of parliament passes and the vacation stays. all year it will be an chance to appeal for memory, justice and redress from Ukraine. No 1 will be able to pretend that for the first time he hears about the martyrdom of Polish children who are loaded with suffixes, about old men with chopped heads, about women cut by forces and alive burned in the churches of the faithful.
At the end of my appeal, let us celebrate with dignity this year our countrymen beastly murdered by Ukrainians and forgotten for many decades by our authorities. Let us thank all those who fought for the fact with their presence on the March of Memory dedicated to Polish victims of Ukrainian genocide. Meet me on 6 July 2025 at 3:00 p.m. in 3 Cross Square in Warsaw. Let's march together to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
PS. The Ukrainian Ministry of abroad Affairs published a message on the decision of the Polish Sejm to establish the Day of Memory of the Victims on 11 July. Kiev considers that the decision is "contrary to the spirit of good neighbourly relations between Ukraine and Poland". The Ukrainian side adds: "Despite the bias and context of the political decision of the Polish Sejm, we proceed our search and exhumation work in Ukraine and Poland respectively". This message shows 1 thing – that the Ukrainian side inactive did not realize anything. It is as if the Germans expressed discontent with the establishment of the National Day of Memory for the Victims of the German Nazi Concentration Camps and Extermination Camps. As an argument for this inappropriateness, they would indicate consent to exhumation of victims from 1 erstwhile camp, e.g. Buchenwald. The head of a sane man cannot fit what he reads. But this insolence comes from something. The blame lies not only on the side of Ukrainian authorities, but besides on the side of subsequent government teams in Poland. Or, above all, on our side. This behaviour stems from the humble attitude of the “ministers of the Ukrainian people”, the unreflexive support of a abroad state and the care of the completely unrealistic and unprofitable concepts of the Intermarine.
PSS. In consequence to the establishment of the “National Day of Memory on Poles – Victims of Genocide by the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and Ukrainian Insurgency Army on east Lands of the Second Republic of Poland”, an ecumenical gathering “Ukraine in a fresh Europe” was organised. The function of Churches” in the Polish Parliament. It was attended by the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church archbishop Swiatosław Szewczuk. The event was organised by the president of the Committee on abroad Affairs Paweł Kowal and the Catholic Information Agency. So you can hazard thesis that the participants were the uncritical devotees of Ukraine themselves. Szewczuk, said: “We, meanwhile, must put upon these wounds the balm of reconciliation: given and obtained. That's why we want to tell you: We forgive and ask for forgiveness”. And I keep wondering why we should apologize to the Ukrainians? Does Shevczuk truly think that faults on both sides balance?
Łukasz Jastrzębski.
