During the central ceremony commemorating the 85th anniversary of the Katyn Massacre, Prime Minister Donald Tusk paid tribute to the victims and used the occasion to reflect on current threats to peace and security. Speaking at the Katyn Museum in Warsaw, Tusk drew a connection between the atrocities of the past and the dangers facing Europe today, referencing a Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy that occurred just hours earlier. Established in 2007 as the official Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Katyn Crime, 13 April serves as a national moment to honour the memory of more than 22,000 Polish citizens murdered in 1940 by the Soviet NKVD. Speaking at the Warsaw Citadel, Tusk stressed that the tragedy of Katyn remains not only a chapter in history but a powerful warning that echoes into the present. He reflected on the cruelty and injustice of the massacre, calling it a crime that defies understanding. The truth about the massacre was hidden by Soviet authorities for decades and only acknowledged in 1992 following years of pressure from Poland. Tusk emphasized that the evil which led to Katyn is not confined to the past, pointing to the missile attack on Sumy as a modern example of the same forces at work. “In the streets of Sumy today, we again see death caused by the same kind of evil,” Tusk said, underlining that the mechanisms of violence and lies remain unchanged, and that the lessons of Katyn must guide Poland’s response to aggression and propaganda. Reflecting on the silence that followed the massacre and the efforts of wartime leaders like Prime Minister Władysław Sikorski to resist diplomatic pressure to downplay the events, Tusk reiterated that Poland must never again be silenced. He declared that the country would not hesitate to speak the truth about its history or current threats and that it would always stand against falsehoods and manipulation. Tusk also offered a firm declaration that Poland would never again face such threats alone. He emphasized that the country is committed to maintaining strength and resilience, supported by international alliances, and that no one should believe Poland can be threatened without consequence. The government, he said, is investing significantly in defence to ensure the country is prepared for any challenge. “We must promise those who gave their lives that Poland will never again stand alone in the face of evil,” Tusk stated, concluding his remarks with a call for unity, justice, and determination. The memory of Katyn, he added, is not only a solemn tribute to the past but a foundation for building a secure and vigilant future. As Poland reflects on this painful chapter of its history, the commemoration serves as both a warning and a commitment: that truth, strength, and solidarity will remain central in protecting the nation’s values and its people. Source: