Every year, on January 27, the international community commemorates the victims of the Holocaust. On the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy took part in a commemoration of the Holocaust.
This was reported by the Office of the President.
The crime of the Holocaust should never be forgotten and should never be repeated, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Holocaust Remembrance Day.
“It was a deliberate attempt by the Nazis to erase an entire nation – to kill all its people, to destroy everything that reminded them of the Jews. Six million victims. The crime of the Holocaust should never happen again, but unfortunately, the memory of the Holocaust is gradually becoming weaker. And the evil that tries to destroy the lives of entire nations still remains in the world,” Zelenskiy wrote.
The Head of State installed a lamp to the Menorah memorial sign on the territory of the Babyn Yar National Historical and Memorial Reserve. The ceremony was also attended by Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak, members of the government, rabbis, and representatives of the diplomatic corps.
International Holocaust Remembrance Day: historical background
International Holocaust Remembrance Day is a commemorative date established by the UN General Assembly on November 1, 2005 (Resolution 60/7). It is celebrated annually on January 27.
On this day in 1945, the soldiers of the 1st Ukrainian Front liberated the prisoners of the largest Nazi death camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau, located in Auschwitz.
According to various estimates, between 1.5 and 2.2 million people died in this camp during its existence. In total, during the Holocaust, in addition to 4.5 million adults, 1.5 million children became victims of the mass extermination of Jews during World War II.
“The Holocaust, which resulted in the extermination of one-third of the Jews and countless victims among other minorities, will always serve as a warning to all peoples of the dangers of hatred, bigotry, racism and prejudice,” the UN General Assembly resolution states. The resolution was initiated by Israel, Canada, Australia, Russia and the United States, and co-sponsored by more than 90 other countries.
By proclaiming January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the UN General Assembly called on member states to create educational programs to help preserve the memory of this tragedy, prevent future acts of genocide, and preserve the places where mass murders of Jews took place as historical monuments.
International Holocaust Remembrance Day was first observed worldwide in 2006. At the same time, some countries began honoring this day even earlier.












