Ukrainian Foreign Ministry on the anniversary of Babyn Yar: “The aggressor must be stopped, evil does not go away on its own”

84th Anniversary of the Mass Executions at Babi Yar

On the day of the 84th anniversary of the mass executions at Babi Yar, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine declared the country’s ongoing struggle against aggression. In 1941-1943, the Nazis took the lives of nearly 100,000 civilians and prisoners of war at this site.

History and Victims

Among those who fell victim were Jews, Roma, OUN underground fighters, psychiatric hospital patients, and prisoners of the Syrets concentration camp. The tragic days of September 29-30, 1941, symbolize the “Holocaust by bullets,” when in two days the Nazis killed nearly 34,000 Jews living in Kyiv.

The executions did not cease throughout the occupation. Later, the Nazis burned the bodies to conceal the evidence and the extent of these horrific acts. Mass killings also took place in other cities: Lviv, Lutsk, Rivne, Zhytomyr, Bila Tserkva, and many others.

Modern Threat

Current events highlight the parallels between history and present challenges. The Ministry noted that today Ukraine is once again fighting against Nazi ideology. The enemy’s rhetoric resembles Nazi thinking, and this threat must be stopped.

“We remember the lessons of Babi Yar,” the Ministry’s commentary states. “The aggressor does not retreat on its own; it must be stopped.” These words emphasize the importance of memory and action in the face of modern aggression.

Leadership Statements

Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko reminded of the slogan “never again,” which emerged as a reaction to the Nazi crimes. She emphasized that Babi Yar remains one of the darkest pages of the Holocaust and serves as a reminder of the need to act to prevent the recurrence of such horrors.

The Need for Decisive Action

Svyrydenko noted that “never again” should not be just a slogan but a true call to action. Today’s situation in Europe demonstrates how a terrorist state has once again unleashed a genocidal war. Decisive measures are needed to protect peaceful people, based on historical knowledge and courage.