Never Forget: Zelenskyy’s Holocaust Remembrance

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine solemnly commemorated the Holocaust victims on January 27, 2026, during an event at the National Historical and Memorial Reserve “Babyn Yar” in Kyiv. The ceremony marked a poignant remembrance of over 100,000 individuals, primarily Jews, who were brutally killed at the site during World War II.

In his speech, President Zelenskyy underscored the essential lessons of history, emphasizing that indifference to hatred and human contempt fuels aggression and undermines global peace. He stressed the importance of collective memory and vigilance to prevent the resurgence of fascism and protect future generations from repeating such tragedies. “If we do not remember, fascism has a chance to be reborn and wage war against humanity,” Zelenskyy cautioned.

The commemoration was attended by more than 50 representatives from foreign diplomatic missions and international organizations, along with prominent Ukrainian rabbis. President Zelenskyy expressed gratitude towards the international community for their ongoing support to Ukraine, which he described as a journey towards justice. The event coincided with the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, observed globally on January 27, the date marking the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1945. On this day, the world remembers the over one million people, mostly Jews, who perished in the concentration camp.