UWC honors Babyn Yar victims, urges global support for Ukraine’s fight for freedom

The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) solemnly joins Ukraine and the international community on September 29 to mourn the anniversary of the tragic Babyn Yar massacre and honor the memory of its innocent victims.

Eighty-three years ago, on September 29-30, 1941, nearly 34,000 Jews were brutally murdered in the Babyn Yar ravine on the outskirts of Kyiv, marking one of the most horrific mass murders of the Holocaust. The total number of Babyn Yar victims is estimated to be as high as 100,000, including Ukrainians, Roma, and prisoners of war of various nationalities, political affiliations, and religious beliefs.

For decades, the Soviet totalitarian regime attempted to conceal and erase the sorrowful memory of the Nazi crimes committed at Babyn Yar. It was only after Ukraine regained its independence in 1991 that Ukrainians and Jews could properly honor those who perished.

In a deliberate and cynical act, invading Russian forces bombed the Babyn Yar National Memorial in Kyiv in early March 2022, blatantly demonstrating Putin’s disregard for the memory of Holocaust victims.

As commemorative events take place in Kyiv, the courageous Ukrainian people continue their fight for freedom and sovereignty against the deceitful Russian terrorist state. The Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine aims not only to subjugate a nation and conquer territory but also to eliminate Ukrainian national identity through this genocidal war on the Ukrainian people. Russia’s leadership openly denies Ukraine’s right to exist as a sovereign independent nation-state.

Much like the Nazis, Vladimir Putin’s authoritarian regime hides its imperialistic ambitions and dreams of “global domination” behind disinformation, lies, and criminal propaganda. With appalling cynicism, the Russians have distorted and manipulated the memory of the Holocaust and the Second World War to justify their rapacious invasion of Ukraine.

“While honoring the victims of Babyn Yar, we call on all democratic and peace-loving nations to continue standing strong with Ukraine and support President Zelenskyy’s victory plan. The international community cannot silently watch as Russia implements a new genocide on Ukrainian soil. It must help the people of Ukraine liberate their land from the deadly Russian occupation and achieve a just and lasting peace. Just like Nazism, the Russian evil must be stopped,” stated UWC President Paul Grod.