Breakthrough Research in Volhynia: Forensic Doctor to Examine How Poles Died in Wola Ostrowiecka

An interdisciplinary team, including forensic medicine specialists, archaeologists, and anthropologists, is conducting detailed exhumation work in Wola Ostrowiecka, Volhynia. The investigation aims to precisely determine how Polish residents, murdered by Ukrainian nationalists during the Volhynia massacre in August 1943, died. The Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) is leading the current exhumation efforts.

“

For eighteen years, I have been closely cooperating with the Institute of National Remembrance in this type of research and search. This is several stages of my work here with the remains. The first stage, where we are now, is the description, assistance in removing the remains from the mass grave. Description of the arrangement of the remains, photographic documentation, diagrams of the arrangement.

Dr. Łukasz Szleszkowski, a forensic medicine specialist from the Medical University of Wrocław, is part of the team. He explained that his work involves several stages, beginning with documenting the arrangement of remains in the mass grave. He applies the same rigorous procedures used in criminal investigations to describe the scene and assist in the recovery of the bodies.

"This is the first stage, where we are now. The second is the examination, which we conduct in the laboratory," Dr. Szleszkowski told PAP. He elaborated that the laboratory phase includes an anthropological part for individual identification, determining age, sex, and unique characteristics. His own medical-forensic role focuses on describing injuries, interpreting them, and establishing the most probable cause and type of death, as well as the circumstances surrounding the trauma.

“

This is the first stage, where we are now. The second is the examination, which we conduct in the laboratory. This laboratory will be set up in a different location. The examination will consist of two parts. The anthropological part concerns individual identification, i.e., all those preliminary identification studies concerning age, sex, individual identification characteristics. This is the anthropological part, and mine, as a forensic doctor, the medical-forensic part concerns the description of injuries. Description of injuries, interpretation of these injuries, determination of the most probable cause of death, the type (of injuries - PAP) that caused these tools and possibly the circumstances of these injuries. This is my role.

The final stage involves collecting material for genetic testing. The team will identify skeletal elements most likely to yield successful DNA results and secure them carefully to prevent contamination. This genetic analysis offers a chance for the IPN to potentially identify victims and provide answers to their families.

“

The third, final stage, is collecting material for genetic testing. That is, selecting those skeletal elements that best promise success in genetic testing, securing them properly. So as not to lead to contamination, i.e., contamination with other material, securing these samples.