11 July is a date etched into Poland’s historical memory. It commemorates the genocide perpetrated by units of the Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) against the defenceless Polish civilian population of Volhynia in 1943. On this day, we reflect on the fate of tens of thousands of innocent victims, paying them the tribute they deserve and keeping alive the memory of their martyrdom.
The choice of this date is no coincidence. On Sunday, 11 July 1943, the atrocities reached their tragic climax. UPA units carried out a attack on nearly one hundred Polish villages in Volhynia. The attackers struck simultaneously in many places, and one of their first targets were the churches where the faithful were gathered for Sunday services. Everyone fell victim to the massacres, regardless of age or gender – women, children and the elderly.
The events of ‘Bloody Sunday’ became a symbol of the entire wave of extermination of the Polish population, which subsequently also engulfed Eastern Lesser Poland. According to estimates, between 100,000 and 120,000 citizens of the Second Polish Republic lost their lives as a result of the crimes committed by Ukrainian nationalists.
The memory of these events has also been honoured at a national level. Under the Act of 4 June 2025, a National Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Genocide committed by Ukrainian nationalists against Poles was established, replacing the earlier Sejm resolution of 2016. This underlines the gravity of this crime and the need to ensure that the memory of the victims is preserved for future generations.
The Polish Aviation Museum joins the nationwide commemorations of these tragic events with deep respect. We remember all the victims of the Volhynia massacre and the unimaginable suffering endured by thousands of Polish families. Keeping this memory alive is our shared duty to the victims, to history and to future generations, so that such crimes are never repeated.
