Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commemorated the 85th anniversary of the Babyn Yar tragedy on Sept. 29, honoring tens of thousands of people murdered by Nazi forces during the occupation of Kyiv from 1941 to 1943. Zelenskyy placed a memorial lamp at the Menorah Memorial in the Babyn Yar National Historical and Memorial Reserve. The ceremony was attended by Ukrainian government officials, foreign ambassadors, rabbis, representatives of international organizations and Jewish community leaders, who recited a memorial prayer. The president described Babyn Yar as a “tragic, bloody example” of the consequences of devaluing human life. He said remembering historical atrocities was essential to ensuring that evil does not escape punishment, and thanked diplomats and international partners for attending the ceremony. About 34,000 Kyiv Jews were shot at Babyn Yar on Sept. 29-30, 1941, according to the presidential website. During the subsequent two years, Nazi forces also killed Roma, Ukrainian resistance members, psychiatric hospital patients, prisoners of war and others. In total, around 100,000 people are believed to have been murdered at the site. Post navigation Hurricane Polo Approaches Guaymas, Mexico