Restoration completed on UNR cemetery in Poland

In the city of Kalisz in western Poland, restoration work on the Ukrainian People's Army (UNR) military cemetery, known as Kalisz-Szczypiorno, has been completed. The restoration, which began in 2023, revitalized the cemetery that originally operated between 1921 and 1940 but was destroyed during the Soviet occupation.

The cemetery now features 240 newly installed crosses with metal frames. Fragments of original pre-war crosses, uncovered during the restoration process, were incorporated into the new structures to preserve the connection between the past and the present. Additionally, a new granite monument with the Ukrainian trident has been erected, resembling the one destroyed by the Soviet army. The inscription on the monument reads: “To those who died but did not betray Ukraine. Ukrainian Army.” A total of 190 names of those buried at the cemetery were identified, including generals, colonels, officers, soldiers, and their families. Jewish and Crimean Tatar graves were also discovered.

The restoration, which cost over 1.2 million Polish zloty (approximately $300,000), was financed by Poland’s Ministry of Culture, the Office of the Voivode of Greater Poland, and Ukrainian historical organizations. It was part of a broader initiative to restore Ukrainian military cemeteries in Poland to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Revolution of 1917–1921. Previously, cemeteries in Lancut, Warsaw, and Lublin were also restored under this program.