Ukraine’s Zelensky marks anniversary of World War II Nazi massacre

More than 30,000 Jewish people were killed by the Nazis at the Babyn Yar ravine near Kyiv in 1941. Zelensky is himself Jewish

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Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky at the memorial ceremony. Photo: Ukrainian Presidential Press Service via AFP

Published: 4:46am, 30 Sep 2024Updated: 9:43am, 30 Sep 2024

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday marked the 83rd anniversary of a Nazi massacre of more than 30,000 Jewish people at the Babyn Yar ravine near Kyiv in 1941.

It was the largest massacre by the Germans and their local collaborators of Jewish people in Ukraine during World War II.

“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,” Zelensky, who is himself Jewish, said on social media site X.

According to 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.

A woman prays at the Crystal Wall of Crying in the Babyn Yar memorial. Photo: AFP

“Babyn Yar is vivid proof of the atrocities that regimes are capable of when led by leaders who rely on intimidation and violence,” added Zelensky, in what appeared to be a reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who in February 2022 ordered the invasion of Ukraine.