Original version

BBC World Service Australasia

Witness History

Podcasts

Factual: Life Stories

Factual: History

History as told by the people who were there

History as told by the people who were there.

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

Witness History: Mass grave at Sernyky

Documentaries

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)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Witness History

Mass grave at Sernyky

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Australasia

About BBC World Service