World Jewish News

Ukraine commemorates Babi Yar massacre of 1941

Survivors, Ukrainian officials and Jewish community leaders have paid tribute to victims of a Nazi massacre of Jews at the Babi Yar ravine. "The Babi Yar tragedy remains a painful memory for every Ukrainian," president Viktor Yushchenko said in an address posted on his website to mark the 64th anniversary of the killings. The massacre began in late September 1941 when Nazi forces occupying Kiev forced local Jews to the brink of the steep ravine and shot them. More than 33,700 people were killed in just a few days. The killings continued for months in Babi Yar, where Nazis also executed thousands of Red Army prisoners. The final death toll was never established, since the Nazis destroyed thousands of bodies, but it was believed to be more than 100,000. At the ravine, now a memorial park just outside Kiev's city center, flowers were laid at the monument marking the area where the executions took place. Parliament Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn, carrying red flowers, was the highest ranking Ukrainian official present. He watched silently as giant flower bouquets were carried to the bronze memorial statue.

Источник: worldjewishcongress.org