On the 85th anniversary of the Babyn Yar tragedy, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy honored the memory of those who were killed in mass Nazi shootings during the occupation of Kyiv in 1941–1943. The Head of State placed a memorial lamp at the Menorah Memorial on the grounds of the Babyn Yar National Historical and Memorial Reserve.
The Menorah was installed on September 29, 1991. It was the first monument unveiled in Ukraine after the restoration of independence.
The ceremony was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy – Minister of Culture of Ukraine Tetyana Berezhna, Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha, rabbis, ambassadors of foreign states, and representatives of international organizations’ missions. Representatives of Jewish organizations recited a memorial prayer.
The President thanked everyone present for honoring the memory of those killed at Babyn Yar.
“The Babyn Yar tragedy is an absolutely tragic, bloody example. This tragedy reminds us how painful it is to lose those we hold dear, our loved ones, and, in general, how human life can be devalued. I want to thank you for understanding the value of all life. This is especially felt in Ukraine during this shameful, unprovoked war that Russia is waging against Ukraine – first and foremost, against society, against people, against all life,” the President said.
According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, it is important to remember moments in history such as the Babyn Yar tragedy so that evil does not escape punishment.
The President separately thanked the diplomats who honored the memory of those killed.
“I really want to thank you because, in these difficult times, in these times of tragedy and occupation, Ukraine has such partners – diplomats, people who represent the great nations of the world, our civilization. I want to thank you for being here with us on a day like this,” the President said.
During the occupation, the Nazis killed around 100,000 people at Babyn Yar. They destroyed almost the entire Jewish community of Kyiv, as well as members of other nationalities. On September 29–30, 1941, the Nazis shot around 34,000 Kyiv Jews. The route along which people were driven to Babyn Yar became known as the “Road of Death.” Over the following two years, Roma, Ukrainian nationalists, members of the underground resistance, psychiatric hospital patients, prisoners of war, and others also fell victim to Nazi crimes at this site. The names of most of them remain unknown.
