Remembering the Tragedy of Babyn Yar, Zelenskyy Commemorates Victims on 83rd Anniversary

On September 29, 2024, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy marked the 83rd anniversary of the Babyn Yar tragedy, honoring the victims of mass executions carried out by the Nazis during the occupation of Kyiv from 1941 to 1943.

The commemoration took place at the National Historical Memorial Preserve of Babyn Yar, attended by the Head of the President’s Office, Andriy Yermak, Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications Mykola Tochitsky, alongside rabbis and ambassadors.

During the ceremony, representatives of Jewish religious organizations recited a memorial prayer. President Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to all those present for honoring the memory of the deceased and emphasized the importance of ensuring that such tragedies never happen again.

“We cannot forget such terrible times—of fascism and Nazism. We must remind everyone of this, not only in Ukraine but also to those beyond our borders, that such horrific times must not return,” he stated.

Zelenskyy also acknowledged the significant contributions of allied nations and the Jewish community in the fight against Nazism.

During the Nazi occupation, approximately 100,000 people were killed at Babyn Yar, which included nearly the entire Jewish population of the city. Notably, on September 29-30, 1941, over 30,000 individuals—including children, women, and the elderly—were executed. The route taken by local residents to Babyn Yar became known as the “Road of Death.”

“Babyn Yar is a harrowing symbol of how the most heinous crimes occur when the world chooses to ignore, remain silent, or show indifference, failing to respond decisively to evil. When the eyes of the world are closed, humanity loses. Babyn Yar serves as a stark reminder of the brutality that regimes led by leaders who thrive on intimidation and violence can inflict. Such regimes do not change, but the world’s reaction must differ. This is the lesson the world should have learned. We must stand guard over humanity, life, and justice. We must defend against evil. Eternal memory to all victims of the Nazis! Eternal condemnation to all who are responsible for the murders at Babyn Yar!” he added.