On May 14th 2021, Ukraine officially marks a Day to commemorate the memory of the Ukrainians who rescued Jews during World War II.

By officially observing this important Day, Ukraine joins the European community of nations in formally recognizing its citizens with the ‘Righteous Among the Nations’ title bestowed upon them in recognition of their role of saving Jews during the Holocaust.

According to the Yad Vashem - The World Holocaust Remembrance Center, Ukraine ranks fourth in the world in terms of the number of its citizens who helped saving the lives of Jews during World War II.

During the War, Hitler's Germany, in accordance with Nazi racial theory, attempted to completely exterminate Jewish population, including those living in the occupied territory of Ukraine.

The Holocaust resulted in the deaths of at least one and a half million Ukrainian Jews - a figure which represents a quarter of the estimated six million Jews who were murdered in Europe.

Those risking their lives to save Jews included Ukrainians, Poles, Russians, Belarusians, Crimean Tatars, Armenians, Greeks, Germans and individuals of many different faiths.

These incredible acts of courage and humanity were performed by ordinary people who risked the death penalty if caught, not just putting at stake their own lives, but also those of their children and members of their extended families.

It is estimated that by the year 2000, 2,659 Ukrainians received the title of Righteous Among the Nations. The State of Israel uses this title to commemorate non-Jews who risked their lives during the Holocaust to save Jews from extermination by the Nazis. 

Ukraine looks forward to recognizing the role of many more of its citizens whose role in rescuing Jews has been documented. Well known Ukrainians to be recognized as Righteous Among the Nations include religious leaders such as Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky and priest Omelyan Kovch. 

Ukraine supports global efforts to study the history of the Holocaust and actively contributes to international efforts to ensure that such tragedies can never again take place.