During the Second World War, the NKVD prison was located in Kowel. It was designed for 237 prisoners, but on 10.06.1941 more than three times that number were held.

During the evacuation in 1941, the NKVD shot 195 prisoners, 300 were released, and 145 were left behind who had not been evacuated in time. The bodies of those killed were buried in the local cemetery.

In June 2000, a mass grave was discovered in a corner of the cemetery, in which the remains of the NKVD victims were found. Exhumation work in this grave was carried out in accordance with the permission of the Kovel city authorities. The work was initiated by the Lviv Regional Society "Poszuk". After anthropological examinations, the remains found were reburied on 25.11.2000.

The new grave is located at the edge of the cemetery, in a rather prominent place. It is an earthen grave and a wooden cross has been placed on it with a plaque attached to it in two languages (Polish and Ukrainian). The inscription states: "Here are buried the remains of the victims of the Kowel prison / executed in June 1941 and exhumed in the cemetery / 13-14 June 2000. Together rest the young Polish soldiers / who died at the hands of the NKVD in 1939-1941 / Eternal memory to the victims of the Bolshevik terror. / Residents of Kowel".