Ukraine's Holocaust Legacy: Stories of Rescue and the War's Assault on Memory
The Holocaust in Ukraine remains a critical subject demanding attention and remembrance, especially given contemporary challenges. During the Second World War, approximately 1.5 million Jews were murdered in the genocide on the territory of modern Ukraine. The destruction of Jewish communities was part of widespread repression, resulting in the deaths of over 60% of Ukrainian Jews. Only about 100,000 Jews were able to hide and survive, while roughly 900,000 managed to flee or evacuate in time.
Among those who saved Jews were Ukrainians deserving of recognition. More than 2,700 Ukrainians have been honored with the title of Righteous Among the Nations. In 2022, Fedir and Sofiia Korotiuk from the Rivne region were posthumously awarded this title. Fedir Korotiuk, who had been repressed by the Soviet authorities, hid a Jewish family from 1942 until 1944. His underground activities during the war underscore the importance of individual courage in the face of grave danger. After the war, in December 1953, he returned to his family following imprisonment in the Gulag, and in 1960 the Korotiuks returned to their native village.
The rescue story of a Jewish girl, Maria Rebbhan, who later enrolled at Lviv University, also forms a vital part of this memory. Recorded by the rescuers' granddaughter, Liubov Karpinska, this account illustrates how, in the darkest times, people found the strength to help others. After the war, Maria married a Russian man and moved to Krasnodar, but she always remembered the Myrovych family who saved her.
The Assault on Holocaust Memory in the Current War
Regrettably, in the current context of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, the memory of Holocaust victims is being physically attacked. During the full-scale invasion, Russian forces have damaged numerous memorials and sites of remembrance. For instance:
- On March 1, 2022, the monument at Babyn Yar in Kyiv was damaged.
- In early March of the same year, the Menorah monument at the 'Drobitsky Yar' memorial complex in the Kharkiv region was hit.
- In May 2022, a Jewish cemetery in Hlukhiv was damaged by Russian shelling.
- In October 2024, the Jewish school 'Perlyna' in Kyiv sustained serious damage.
- In November 2023, a historic late-19th century Jewish school in Novozlatopil, Zaporizhzhia region, was destroyed.
These events highlight the vital importance of preserving the memory of the genocide and honoring those who saved lives under the most severe trials. However, according to expert Andrii Usach, the ongoing war in Ukraine has currently halted efforts to search for and nominate those who rescued Jews during the Second World War to Yad Vashem for recognition.
The imperative to preserve the memory of the Holocaust in Ukraine is urgent not only for historical reasons but also within the context of the modern war. The destruction of memorials linked to this tragedy signals the dangers of historical erasure and distortion. As the expert notes, the inability to currently honor wartime rescuers underscores the necessity of safeguarding collective memory, which is crucial for shaping national identity and moral values. The memory of the Holocaust's victims and the heroes who saved lives must remain a central focus for society to prevent such tragedies from recurring.