Between 1944 and 1951, approximately 700,000 Ukrainians became victims of forced resettlements carried out under the guise of a "mutual exchange of populations" between Poland and the Ukrainian SSR. This large-scale historical event, often overlooked in Ukrainian society, affected residents of ethnic Ukrainian territories such as Lemkivshchyna, Nadsiannia, Kholmshchyna, Southern Pidliashia, Liubachivshchyna, and Western Boikivshchyna. They were relocated to various parts of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, particularly to the "bare steppes" of the southern and eastern regions.
These events, along with Operation Vistula, continue to be a sensitive topic in Ukrainian-Polish relations. The recent controversial statement by former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba only underscored the relevance and incompletely understood complexity of this historical period.
"Ukrainska Pravda" seeks to shed light on this tragic page of history, drawing on the research of historian Roman Kabachiy, author of the book "Expelled to the Steppes. Resettlement 1944–1946." His work helps to study in more detail the circumstances of this "great resettlement" and its long-term impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians.
Today, against the backdrop of Russia's full-scale aggression, this topic takes on a new, bitter significance. The descendants of those who survived the deportations in the mid-20th century are once again forced to leave their homes due to the actions of the aggressor, making the historical parallels particularly acute and painful. It is important to remember and comprehend these events in order to understand the roots of modern challenges and protect the future from similar tragedies.
Original article: https://www.pravda.com.ua/articles/2024/09/8/7473943/
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