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Babyn Yar remains one of the bloodiest symbols of the Holocaust.
Every year on September 29, Ukraine holds events dedicated to commemorating the victims of Babyn Yar. This day marks an important step in honoring the memory of millions who perished during the Holocaust and political repressions in Ukraine during World War II, as reported by the Institute of National Remembrance.
In 2005, by decree of the President of Ukraine, September 29 was officially proclaimed the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Babyn Yar. This day was established to honor the deceased and raise public awareness of the importance of remembering the past. On this day in 1941, one of the largest mass executions in Ukraine’s history occurred when Nazi forces shot more than 33,000 Jews over two days.
Babyn Yar is a ravine located in the northwest of Kyiv, which has become a symbol of horrific crimes committed during the Holocaust. In September 1941, after the Nazi occupation of Kyiv, mass deportations and the extermination of the Jewish population began. Initially, victims were transported outside the city, but soon, executions began to take place directly in Babyn Yar.
Within just a few days, thousands of people were executed in Babyn Yar, including women, children, the elderly, and those trying to protect them. The site became a symbol not only of Jewish genocide but also of numerous other atrocities committed during the war. According to various estimates, around 100,000 people perished in Babyn Yar during the Nazi occupation, including Ukrainians, Roma, and people of other nationalities.
After the war, Babyn Yar remained neglected for a long time. It wasn’t until the 1960s that the first attempts to honor the victims began. In 1976, a monument was erected at the site of the tragedy. However, true recognition of this atrocity only began in the 1990s after Ukraine gained independence. Today, Babyn Yar is a place of remembrance, where memorial events, exhibitions, and scholarly research dedicated to the Holocaust are held.
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