Russia unleashed drones and aerial bombs on Ukraine as the country marked the 83rd anniversary of one of the darkest chapters of World War II—the Babyn Yar massacre. On September 29, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended a solemn ceremony at the Babyn Yar National Historical Memorial Preserve, paying tribute to the victims of the Nazi atrocities committed during the Holocaust. Yet, even as Ukraine remembered the horrors of the past, it was forced to endure fresh violence from its northern neighbor.
The commemorative event, held at the Babyn Yar Memorial in Kyiv, was attended by dignitaries, religious leaders, and government officials, including Rabbis, diplomats, Ukraine’s Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications Mykola Tochytskyi, and the Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak. The ceremony, organized by the Ukrainian government, was a somber occasion to remember the lives lost during two harrowing days in 1941, when Nazi forces systematically executed over 33,000 Jewish men, women, and children.
In a statement from the Ukrainian Presidential Office, the event was described as honoring not only the Jewish victims but also others who perished at Babyn Yar under Nazi occupation. President Zelenskyy, himself of Jewish descent, spoke poignantly about the enduring lessons of the tragedy. In a social media post on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, “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.” His words resonated deeply in light of the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia.
Zelenskyy’s post emphasized the dangers of apathy and inaction in the face of injustice. “When the eyes of the world are closed, humanity loses,” the President stated, adding that the Babyn Yar tragedy serves as a cautionary tale of what can happen when regimes that thrive on violence and intimidation are left unchecked. “But the world’s response should be different,” Zelenskyy implored. “We must guard humanity, life, and justice. We must defend ourselves against evil.”
Babyn Yar: A Historical Atrocity
The Babyn Yar massacre remains one of the most horrific atrocities of World War II. In September 1941, Nazi forces occupied Kyiv, then part of the Soviet Union, which was led by Russia. The Jewish population of Kyiv, estimated at around 160,000 before the war, had been decimated by the time Nazi troops marched into the city. About 100,000 Jews had fled or joined the Soviet armed forces, leaving approximately 60,000—mainly women, children, the elderly, and the infirm—behind.
The Nazis, operating under the false pretense of “relocating” the remaining Jewish population, lured the Jews of Kyiv to the Babyn Yar ravine on September 29 and 30, 1941. Notices were posted around the city, instructing Jews to gather at the ravine with their belongings, money, and warm clothing. The message, written in multiple languages, promised relocation but threatened death for those who disobeyed.
Over 30,000 Jews turned up at Babyn Yar, far exceeding the Nazis’ expectation of 5,000 to 6,000. They were systematically stripped of their possessions, forced to remove their clothing, and marched in groups of ten to the edge of the ravine, where they were gunned down by Einsatzgruppen C, a Nazi mobile killing squad. According to Nazi records, 33,771 Jews were murdered in the ravine over the course of two days.
One witness, a Ukrainian truck driver who later testified, described the chilling efficiency of the massacre: “The Jews – men, women, and children – arrived… they had to remove their luggage, then their coats, shoes, overgarments, and also underwear… Once undressed, the Jews were led into the ravine… When they reached the bottom of the ravine, they were seized by members of the Schultpolizei and made to lie down on top of Jews who had already been shot. That all happened very quickly. The corpses were literally in layers.”
The slaughter at Babyn Yar continued for two more years, with tens of thousands of additional victims, including Soviet prisoners of war, Roma (Gypsies), and patients from a local psychiatric hospital, murdered at the site. By the time the Nazis withdrew from Kyiv in 1943, it is estimated that more than 100,000 people had been killed at Babyn Yar.
The Intersection of Past and Present
For many Ukrainians, the Babyn Yar massacre is not only a symbol of Nazi brutality but also a stark reminder of the violence that has haunted their country throughout history. The tragedy of Babyn Yar has been memorialized with parks, museums, and monuments dedicated to the victims. Yet, as Ukraine now faces a devastating war with Russia, the parallels between the past and the present are hard to ignore.
In 2022, during the early stages of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial was damaged by Russian shelling, prompting outrage both within Ukraine and around the world. At the time, President Zelenskyy denounced the attack, asking, “What is the point of saying ‘never again’ for 80 years if the world stays silent when a bomb drops on the same site of Babyn Yar?” His words underscored the painful irony of war revisiting a location so deeply associated with death and destruction.
This year’s commemoration, held amidst escalating violence, echoed that same sense of historical repetition. Even as Ukraine mourned the victims of the Nazi genocide, it was again under attack—this time from Russia. On the day of the memorial, Russian forces launched guided bombs and drones into the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, injuring at least 16 people and causing widespread destruction to infrastructure, homes, and railways.
Shortly after attending the Babyn Yar commemoration, President Zelenskyy posted images of the latest Russian bombardment on X, decrying the continued assaults on Ukrainian cities. “This week alone, the Russian army has used nearly 900 aerial bombs, over 300 ‘Shahed’ drones, and more than 40 missiles,” Zelenskyy wrote, illustrating the relentless nature of the Russian campaign. “This Russian terror knows no pause, and it can only be stopped by the unity of the world—unity in supporting Ukraine and unity in putting pressure on Russia for the war.”
The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has devastated large swathes of the country and led to a massive loss of life. In the days following the Babyn Yar commemoration, the situation only deteriorated further. On October 2, Ukrainian forces confirmed their withdrawal from the strategic hilltop town of Vuhledar in eastern Ukraine, conceding control to Russian forces. This development marked a significant setback for Ukraine, as Vuhledar’s high ground provided a critical vantage point in the contested Donetsk region.
The war, now entering its third year, has drawn widespread international condemnation, with numerous countries imposing economic sanctions on Russia and providing military aid to Ukraine. Yet, the conflict shows no signs of abating, and the toll on civilians continues to mount. The United Nations has reported tens of thousands of civilian casualties, and millions have been displaced as a result of the fighting.
For Ukrainians, the war is a reminder of the violence that has long defined their nation’s history. The massacre at Babyn Yar serves as a haunting symbol of what can happen when the world fails to act against tyranny and oppression. As President Zelenskyy stated during this year’s commemoration, the lessons of Babyn Yar must not be forgotten. “We must defend ourselves against evil,” he urged, calling on the international community to remain united in its support for Ukraine.
The Babyn Yar tragedy, commemorated amidst the horrors of a new war, underscores the painful continuity of violence in Ukraine’s history. As the nation struggles to fend off Russian aggression, the lessons of the past are more relevant than ever. The memorial for those killed in the Holocaust serves as a poignant reminder that evil must be confronted, and justice must be pursued. In the words of President Zelenskyy, “We must guard humanity, life, and justice. We must defend ourselves against evil.” These words, spoken in remembrance of the victims of Babyn Yar, now resonate with the struggles of a country fighting for its survival.
