Shared Memory of the Katyn Massacre Victims

April 13th was established by the Polish Sejm in 2007 as the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Katyn Massacre. Commemorations marking the 85th anniversary took place at the Katyn Museum in Warsaw, attended by Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

“There are no words or definitions that can help us comprehend the enormity and senselessness of this crime. We can never come to terms with the triumph of evil. We can never accept that victims can be powerless. We cannot bring ourselves to acknowledge it, we cannot speak of it wisely, when we witness evil overcoming good,” said the Prime Minister at the Warsaw Citadel.

The Prime Minister recalled the 22,000 Polish citizens who were murdered in 1940 by NKVD officers on orders from the highest authorities of the USSR.

“This sacrifice is not only an exceptionally powerful lesson in history but one that we must listen to today with particular sensitivity. […] Because the evil that was the source of that crime still lurks around us,” the Prime Minister reminded.

The truth about the victims of the Katyn Massacre was hidden for years by Soviet authorities. Only the efforts of the Polish government forced Russia to reveal the truth about the perpetrators of the genocide in 1992.

Russian Attack on Sumy

Referring to current events, the Prime Minister mentioned the Russian missile strike on Sumy, Ukraine, that took place earlier today.

“In the city of Sumy, Russian missiles fell on people who were praying, on those going to Mass just a few hours ago. The bodies of those who died in such a symbolic moment now lie on the streets of that city. A death no less tragic, inflicted by the same evil,” Donald Tusk emphasized.

He reminded that despite historical differences, the mechanisms of evil remain unchanged. Evil coming from Russia threatens Ukraine and peace in Poland and Europe. The Katyn lesson must serve as a warning against helplessness in the face of evil, lies, and aggression.

Evil That Still Exists

The Prime Minister also referred to the dramatic experiences of World War II and the post-war silence surrounding the Katyn Massacre. He recalled Prime Minister Władysław Sikorski’s reaction to Allied efforts to silence Poland regarding the disclosure of truth about those events:
“Do not give in so easily to lies. Russia may have strength on its side, but we have justice,” said Władysław Sikorski.

“These are beautiful words, but I hope we never have to repeat them. If we talk about the Katyn lesson, we must speak with full conviction, faith, and determination that we will never succumb to lies and deceptive propaganda. That we will never be weaker than evil and never cross over to its side,” emphasized the Prime Minister.

He added that Poland will not pretend to be unaware of where true evil lies and who its perpetrator is—and where the victim and good reside.

Never Again Alone or Powerless

Emphasizing the memory of the Katyn Massacre victims, the Prime Minister stated that Poland can no longer and will never again be alone in the face of evil.

“Today, we must promise those who gave their lives that Poland will never again be alone in confrontation—should one come—with evil, lies, and injustice. We will not be naive,” assured Donald Tusk.

He added that it is equally important to promise that Poland will never again be weak.

“Let no Polish leader ever again have to say the words: they may have power, but we have justice. Let us always be able to say with full confidence that Poland stands for strength, justice, truth—and that Poland always stands on the side of good,” stressed the head of government.

Every day, we face lies, disinformation, and propaganda from the East. The government is consistently strengthening the country's security and allocating vast resources to defense. We cannot allow such a crime to happen again.

“No one who raises a hand against Poland will be able to do so with impunity. No one in the world or near our borders will ever again be able to say: let's attack Poland—after all, it is powerless, after all, it is alone,” said the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister concluded his speech with a message of hope and shared responsibility for a strong Poland. The memory of the Katyn Massacre is not only a tribute to the victims but also a warning. In the face of modern threats, truth, solidarity, and decisive action are the best response. Poland does not forget—and Poland is not alone.