Kharkiv Holocaust Memorial Wrecked By Russian Bombs

NEW YORK (VINnews) — A Holocaust memorial near the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv has been damaged in Russian bombardments, according to a report by Ukrainian government officials Saturday.

Images posted on social media showed a wrecked menorah monument at the Drobytsky Yar site, a ravine where 15-20,000 Jews were murdered during the Holocaust.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba slammed Russia for the incident, and called for Israeli condemnation.

“Why Russia keeps attacking Holocaust memorials in Ukraine? I expect Israel to strongly condemn this barbarism,” Kuleba wrote.

This Menora in Drobytskyi Yar near Kharkiv never threatened anyone. It commemorates the memory of over 15.000 Jews murdered by Nazis. Damaged by Russian shelling today. Why Russia keeps attacking Holocaust Memorials in Ukraine? I expect Israel to strongly condemn this barbarism. pic.twitter.com/m7AiT4zlBg

— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) March 26, 2022

Ukraine’s embassy in Israel and Israel’s Ambassador to Ukraine Michael Brodsky said the damage was the result of Russian artillery shelling in the area. The embassy condemned the attack, writing that “another memorial of the Holocaust victims was destroyed by Russian barbarians in Ukraine.”

“No one should keep silent, when Russian war criminals [are] killing civilians, kids, pregnant women, shelling hospitals, memorials…. Russians are repeating the Nazis’ crimes, again and again and again!”

The reference to another memorial damaged refers to alleged claims that the Babi Yar site near Kyiv was also damaged by Russian bombs, although later reports showed that buildings near the site were damaged but it remained untouched.

The United Jewish Community of Ukraine also reported on damage caused to the Kharkiv site, blaming Russian artillery for the damage.