Ukraine Bars Historian from Volhynia Burial

Polish historian Michal Siekierka was denied entry to Ukraine while traveling to attend a state funeral for 55 victims of the Volhynia massacre. Their remains were discovered during exhumations in the villages of Ostrowki and Wola Ostrowiecka. Among the victims were 26 children.

At the Dorohusk-Yahodyn border crossing, Siekierka, a historian at Poland’s Institute of National Remembrance, was ordered off the bus along with relatives of the victims. Border guards informed him that he had been subject to a three-year entry ban since 2023 following a decision by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). Siekierka said he had been unaware of the ban until then.

Siekierka, who is also vice-chairman of the Association for the Memory of Victims of Crimes Committed by Ukrainian Nationalists, said he has never been charged with or convicted of a crime in Poland, Ukraine or any other country.

After he signed a document in Ukrainian, it was returned to him. The authorities reportedly provided no evidence or explanation for the measure.

The historian said he does not question Kyiv’s right to protect its security, but is calling for clarification. He urged Polish authorities to request the legal basis for the ban, review similar decisions concerning other Polish citizens and establish a system to notify those affected, including information on how they can appeal.

(dorzeczy, bak)