Zelensky Marks 85th Anniversary of Babi Yar Massacre, Links Past Atrocities to Present Russian Aggression

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky participated in the annual commemoration of the Babi Yar massacre near Kyiv, an event held under heavy security and with air defense systems active due to concerns over Russian drone attacks. Speaking at the ceremony, Zelensky drew parallels between the atrocities committed at the site 85 years ago and the current attacks by Russia.

The Babi Yar ceremony, organized in part by the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine and the President's Office, was attended by representatives from approximately 50 countries, including ambassadors from G7 nations and Israel's new ambassador to Ukraine, Roey Rosenblit.

Upon his arrival, President Zelensky received an update regarding the repatriation flight of Israeli teenager Daniel Omansky from Chisinau to Israel. Omansky was killed by a Russian drone strike on his home in Kyiv on Friday and is to be buried in central Israel at his family's request.

For Rabbi Devora Leah Livnaherz, a Chabad emissary in Kyiv who has led the local community for nearly 30 years with her husband Rabbi Moti, the event held personal significance. Her great-grandmother, Sonia Pozner, was murdered at Babi Yar 85 years ago during the massacre in which 33,771 Jews were killed by the Nazis and their collaborators. Livnaherz noted that her great-grandmother's details were recently found in Yad Vashem testimony, and seeing the synagogues full of Jews at the ceremony represented the most meaningful commemoration for her.

The Babi Yar site serves as a memorial to the mass killings of Jews and other civilians by Nazi forces during World War II.