The commemoration of the 82nd anniversary of the Babi Yar massacres in Ukraine marked a day of memory and contemplation. Near Kiev, in the Babi Yar ravine, the Nazis executed more than 30,000 Jews in 1941, and several hundred thousand more were killed in the months that followed. The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, himself of Jewish faith, participated in this moving ceremony.
Dressed in his usual khaki green military fatigues, President Zelensky lit a candle to honor the memory of the victims. He then paid his respects in front of the “Menorah” monument, dedicated to the Jews executed during this tragic episode in History. This huge mass grave was also the site of massacres of Roma, Soviet prisoners of war and Ukrainians.
The Babi Yar massacres were carried out during the Nazi occupation of Ukraine between 1941 and 1942. According to official figures, between 100 and 150,000 people were executed there, making Babi Yar one of the darkest symbols of the Holocaust.
This commemoration takes place in a particularly tense context in Ukraine, marked by the ongoing war with Russia. Tensions between the two countries have been exacerbated since the occupation of Crimea by Russia in 2014 and the invasion of eastern Ukraine in 2022. The Babi Yar commemoration ceremony therefore takes on a strong symbolic dimension in this context of conflict.
President Zelensky took this opportunity to reiterate the importance of fighting anti-Semitism and racism, and to affirm his determination to defend democratic values and human rights. He also called for international solidarity in the fight against extremism, recalling that the tragic story of Babi Yar must serve as a reminder to prevent such crimes from happening again.
This commemoration was also an opportunity for the international community to reiterate its support for Ukraine in its fight for independence and justice. Many countries have expressed solidarity with Ukraine, condemning Russian aggression and calling for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
In short, the commemoration of the 82nd anniversary of the Babi Yar massacres in Ukraine was a moment of memory and reflection on the horrors of the past, but also an opportunity to recall the importance of the fight against intolerance and extremism. . In a context of conflict with Russia, this commemoration takes on particular significance and strengthens Ukraine’s determination to defend its values and sovereignty.