Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday marked the 83rd anniversary of the Nazi massacre of more than 30,000 Jewish people at the Babyn Yar ravine near Kyiv in 1941.
Zelensky who spoke via his official X handle said, “Today marks the 83rd anniversary of the Babyn Yar tragedy.
“On September 29-30, 1941, in just two days, the Nazis shot over 30,000 Jews in Kyiv. Entire families, men, children, women, even those pregnant—were forced to walk down the “Road of Death” to the ravine. The scale of this evil is still hard to perceive.
“Babyn Yar is a terrifying symbol, showing that the most heinous crimes occur when the world chooses to ignore, remain silent, stay indifferent, and lacks the determination to stand up against evil,
“When the eyes of the world are closed, humanity loses,
“Babyn Yar is vivid proof of the atrocities that regimes are capable of when led by leaders who rely on intimidation and violence,At any time, they are no different.
“But the world’s response should be different. This is the lesson the world should have learned. We must guard humanity, life, and justice.”
“We must defend ourselves against evil. Eternal memory to all the victims of the Nazis. Eternal condemnation to everyone guilty of the murders at Babyn Yar.”
According to the statement Zelensky, made reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who in February 2022 ordered the invasion of Ukraine.
It was gathered that, in the official figures, between 100,000 and 150,000 people including Jewish people, Roma people, Soviet prisoners of war, and other Ukrainians were killed at Babyn Yar between 1941 and 1942, during the Nazi occupation of Ukraine.