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Witness History: Mass grave at Sernyky

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Mass grave at Sernyky

12/04/2023 GMT

BBC World Service - Witness History, Mass grave at Sernyky

An archaeologist travels to Ukraine to excavate a mass grave from World War Two

In 1990, archaeologist Richard Wright spent six weeks unearthing a mass grave in Ukraine. The grave held more than 500 Jews who had been killed in a mass execution.

In 1990, archaeologist Richard Wright flew half way around the world to unearth a mass grave in Sernyky, Ukraine as part of an Australian Nazi war crimes investigation.   

The site contained more than 500 bodies of Jewish people who had been killed in a mass execution.

Richard's findings were used in the war crimes trial of Ivan Polyukhovich. He had fled to Australia after World War Two. 

Decades later Richard recounts his experience to Alex Collins.

This programme contains destressing details. 

(Photo: Mass grave in Sernyky. Credit: Sydney Jewish Museum)

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