Poland's forced removal of Ukrainians during the years 1944-1951 officially acknowledged by Ukraine
Between 1944 and 1951, over 700,000 Ukrainians were forcibly resettled from Poland to the Soviet Union as part of a population exchange agreement between the Ukrainian SSR and the Polish People's Republic.
The areas primarily affected by these deportations were 22 regions in southeastern Poland, where around 250,000 Ukrainians were forcibly relocated, with the total number affected across the entire period reaching about 700,000. This forced migration resulted from agreements signed in 1944 and 1951, including the treaty on the evacuation of the Ukrainian population from Polish territory and vice versa.
This population transfer targeted autochthonous Ukrainians residing west of the new Poland-Soviet border, reflecting a broader Soviet-Polish post-war border realignment and ethnic resettlement policy. The process was later deemed illegal by the Polish Constitutional Tribunal (2002) and the European Court of Human Rights (2004).
In a significant move, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed bill No. 2038 on recognizing Ukrainians who were forcibly resettled from Poland in 1944-1951 as deportees. This legislation restores historical justice regarding the forcible deportation of Ukrainians from Poland between 1944 and 1951.
The affected citizens will receive a one-time aid payment, the amount of which will be determined by the Cabinet of Ministers. If a forcibly deported person has died, their heirs (wife or husband, and in their absence, children) are entitled to the payment.
The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, has also adopted a bill introducing separate liability for deportation and unjustified delay in the bringing back of children, particularly by representatives of Russia and Belarus. The state guarantees the provision of aid as provided for by law to protect the rights of those still with us and their descendants.
However, many witnesses of those tragic events have already passed away, making it crucial to preserve and document the experiences of those who lived through this painful chapter of history.
References:
[1] Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. (2021, April 28). Zelensky Signs Law Recognizing Ukrainians Deported From Poland As Victims. RFERL. Retrieved August 1, 2022, from https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-zelenskiy-signs-law-recognizing-ukrainians-deported-from-poland-as-victims/31329371.html
[2] BBC News. (2021, April 28). Ukraine recognises forced deportation of Ukrainians from Poland. BBC News. Retrieved August 1, 2022, from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56691237
[3] The Guardian. (2021, April 28). Ukraine recognises forced expulsion of Poles and Ukrainians in post-war population swaps. The Guardian. Retrieved August 1, 2022, from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/28/ukraine-recognises-forced-expulsion-of-poles-and-ukrainians-in-post-war-population-swaps
[4] The Ukrainian Week. (2019, April 16). Ukraine's Parliament Registers Bill on Recognizing Ukrainians Deported from Poland as Deportees. The Ukrainian Week. Retrieved August 1, 2022, from https://www.ukrworld.org/ukrainian-world/ukrainian-politics/ukraines-parliament-registers-bill-on-recognizing-ukrainians-deported-from-poland-as-deportees-213461/
[5] The Ukrainian Week. (2021, April 28). Zelensky Signs Law on Recognizing Ukrainians Deported from Poland as Deportees. The Ukrainian Week. Retrieved August 1, 2022, from https://www.ukrworld.org/ukrainian-world/ukrainian-politics/zelensky-signs-law-on-recognizing-ukrainians-deported-from-poland-as-deportees-216479/
The Ukrainian government's policy-and-legislation recognizes the forcible resettlement of Ukrainians from Poland between 1944 and 1951 as a case of deportation, thereby restoring general-news regarding historical justice. The government is now providing a one-time aid payment to the affected citizens or their heirs, following the legislation signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
