In Poland on Wednesday, a mourning ceremony was held to open cemeteries in Bogusz and Kosówka, where 21 thousand Soviet prisoners of war are buried, as well as Poles, Italians, and French who were tortured by the Nazis during the Second World War.

As reported by RIA Novosti, these cemeteries, which contain the ashes of about 23 thousand people, were reconstructed and equipped at the expense of Russia. During the war there was a prisoner of war camp here. Almost none of them survived, and their names remained unknown.

The funeral event was held in accordance with military ceremonies, with the participation of diplomats and parliamentarians of the two countries, representatives of local authorities and the public, as well as diplomats from the CIS countries, Italy and France.

As Igor Makarov, head of the historical and memorial department of the Russian Embassy, told RIA Novosti, this year alone in Poland, at the expense of Russia, with the active assistance of Polish central and local authorities, 19 military graves were put in order, where 130 thousand of our compatriots are buried.

In the coming days, reconstructed cemeteries will be opened in Braniewo, where 23 thousand Soviet soldiers who died during the liberation of Poland lie, and in Wojtyniewo, where 8.5 thousand Soviet prisoners of war are buried.

In total, 600 thousand Soviet soldiers who died during its liberation, and 1 million 200 thousand prisoners of war are buried in 648 military cemeteries and burial grounds in Poland.

“Climatic and temporary factors are inexorable, so we must constantly engage in this type of activity,” stated Igor Makarov.

Two more Russian military cemeteries opened in Poland