Starobilsk camp for Polish prisoners of war, Starobilsk
A former convent where in 1939–1940 the NKVD held almost four thousand Polish officers, later shot in Kharkiv.
On 19 September 1939 the NKVD set up a camp for Polish prisoners of war on the grounds of the former Convent of the Joy of All Who Sorrow in Starobilsk (Luhansk Regional Library; Institute of National Remembrance of Poland). At the end of November 1939 it held 3,907 people, among them 8 generals (Ukrinform), and as of 29 December, 3,945 officers. In spring 1940, 3,820 prisoners of the camp were taken to Kharkiv and shot in the internal prison of the regional NKVD directorate (Luhansk Regional Library) — part of the Katyn massacre. Sources give different dates for the start of the transports: 3 or 5 April 1940 (Ukrinform). On 24 April 2012 a memorial plaque was unveiled on the convent building. On 2 March 2022 russian troops entered Starobilsk (Suspilne); there is no open information about what has happened to the plaque since.
Occupied territory — no access. The house number is 43 (trip-impressions.com, columbista.com); sources give different street names.