During the occupation, Fr Władysław Grobelny was the vicar of the parish in Kobryn (currently #Belarus). Along with the parish priest, Fr Jan Wolski, he was accused of helping the Jews. Both were most probably arrested by the Belarusian police, who cooperated with the Gestapo. For six weeks the clergy were in prison on Brzeska Street.

On October 15, 1942, during the liquidation of the ghetto, Fr. Grobelny and Fr. Wolski were joined to a column of Jews led towards the Borysowski Forest near Kobryn. There were pits prepared, into which all the killed were thrown.

In 1944 the pits were excavated by prisoners and Soviet POWs, who then burned the bodies.