There was a further conference between representatives of the UPA and
the WiN on May 18, 1946, in the village of Myahke (Miekke), Hrubeshiv
district. Ukrainian delegates were Teddor Harasymiak ("Dunayskyi",
Ravich"), "Pevnyi" ("Yavir") and Volodymyr
Bataliya ("Zakharchuk", "Khmurnyi"). The Polish
delegation consist of 12 local commanders, headed by "Ostroja",
who introduced himself as manager of political affairs for the WiN Supreme
Command. Other members of the Polish delegation were Capt. S. Ksiazyk
("Wyrwa"); Jozef Dabrowski ("Azja"), commander of
the Hrubeshiv district; a representative from the Kholm district; two
representatives from the Tomashiv district and six more unnamed WiN
officers.(35) Nevertheless, the conference took place. Report on the
conference listed the following topics: 1) "Ostroja": "The
present political situation in the world", 2) T. Harasymiak: "The
concepts of a united front created by the captive nations and Polish-Ukrainian
co-operation", 3) "Ostroja": "Principles of Polish-Ukrainian
co-operation", 4) Military affairs, 5) Mutual relations on territories
stretching from Volodava to Bilhorai, 6) Administrative and economic
affairs. Although the conference had been scheduled to last for two
days, it wound up after 10 hours because the large Polish security detail
(100 in total) was without provisions.
"Ostroja" expressed the view that the world now found itself
divided into two camps - one democratic and governed by freedom, the
other communist and ruled by "terror and subjugation" - which
would have to eventually meet in a clash. "Ostroja" said,
"We stand for the true Anglo-American form of democracy which gathers
around itself a number of smaller countries that readily co-operate
on an equal footing." He pointed to a number of international events
as proof of the growing conflict between countries of the West and the
USSR.37 "Independent countries, foremost among them Poland and
Ukraine, will emerge following the defeat of bolshevism and these free
nations will have to join in the ideal of co-operation in order to fulfill
a historic mission in the eastern part of Europe and to unseat both
the Russian and the German forms of imperialism."
At the beginning of the meeting, T. Harasymiak gave a historical analysis
of Polish-Ukrainian relations. He emphasized the fact that, historically,
co-operation had always made both nations strong and free. Past mistakes
and conflicts brought about the downfall of Poland and Ukraine. "Another
significant reason for the collapse in 1939 of a recently-
established Poland was the wrong approach taken to the Ukrainian problem
within Poland in particular and also throughout the world." In
his discussion of current Polish-Ukrainian relations, Harasymiak stressed
the following:
Co-operation and co-existence will have to be anchored on genuine, honest
relationship and mutual respect for each others' ideals. This co-operation
must be evident not only on paper or in diplomatic relations, but must
become rooted in, and be supported by, all segments of both societies.
This type of co-operation should exist between all subjugated nations,
but especially between the two neighbours, Poland and Ukraine.
In his presentation, "Ostroja" spoke of common national interests
and outlined aspects of Polish-Ukrainian co-operation. The two would
have to join forces to oppose both German and Russian imperialism, he
said. Other nations in Eastern and Central Europe, including Greece
and the nations in Soviet Central Asia, would join this alliance because
they too were threatened by the two forms of imperialism. The centre
for this united effort would be all the Slavic nations except Russia.
"Ostroja" went on to discuss economic perspectives and cultural
developments within this broad geo-political arena.
Turning to practical matters, he declared that the first step towards
forming this common front would have to be made right here, on the Polish-Ukrainian
border; a positive step towards a harmonious co-existence, he said,
would have to be established here. He also suggested that conferences
between members of the undergrounds should occur more frequently, thus
providing a forum for the establishment of a formal alliance.
The remainder of the conference dealt with the practical aspects of
co-operation and collaboration. The delegates worked out a general plan
for the attack on Hrubeshiv and decided upon locations for concentrated
UPA and WiN units. The Polish officers gave us a map revealing the sites
and the ): defence systems of communist garrisons. Principles of cooperation
were reviewed once more, but this time with a welcome addition: the
WiN invited UPA units to set up quarters on their territory and, furthermore,
permitted us to make use of their medical facilities in case of need.
Administrative problems were settled and a further supply of ammunition
was promised.
Yevhen Shtendera, © 1977