Oleksandr Alfyorov, Head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory, joined a ceremony in Olyka, Volyn region, to commemorate the victims of the tragic events that took place during World War II.
According to Ukrinform, Alfyorov announced this on Facebook.
The commemoration included a memorial service at a Catholic cemetery, after which participants laid flowers at a memorial cross.
"Speaking about the tragic events in Volyn in 1943, we acknowledge that they happened and that they must be remembered. This memory must be honest, responsible, and free from political manipulation. It must not become a weapon that once again divides Ukrainians and Poles," Alfyorov said.
In his view, Ukrainians and Poles should be united by the understanding that both nations have recognized the mistakes of the past and are prepared to work together for the future. He expressed hope that remembrance of the tragedy could become a symbol of "the ability to overcome the burden of historical grievances without denying the truth or forgetting those who perished."
