During the Second World War, during the mass extermination of Poles by members of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, Rivne became a centre to which Polish refugees from the surrounding villages were directed. The number of Poles increased to 30,000, many of whom were camped outdoors for lack of any accommodation. The Germans deported more than 20 000 of them to forced labour in the Third Reich.

Poles from Rivne and the surrounding area, murdered by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, were buried in several cemeteries in the city.

In the cemetery on Dubienska Street, the following found eternal resting places: Weronika Siwek, 8-year-old Roman Wiktor Mielnik, Tadeusz Ławniczek (student), Emilia Dubicka, Jan Paczkowski, Genowefa Halina Żarczyńska. Many of these graves are now unnamed.