Ukrainian Canadians Condemn Vandalism of Commemorative Markers at Babyn Yar

UCCLA Media Release

For Immediate Release Ottawa, 16 July 2009 Speaking on behalf of the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association, its chairman, Dr. Lubomyr Luciuk, expressed indignation at the recent vandalism of commemorative markers at the Babyn Yar memorial, in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital. A cross and memorial plaque commemorating the Ukrainian nationalists murdered by the Nazis during their brutal occupation were pushed over and smashed. Those responsible have not yet been identified or arrested. Commenting, Dr. Luciuk said: "It is not well understood that Ukraine lost more of its population than any other nation in Nazi-occupied Europe. Millions of Ukrainians were murdered or enslaved by the Nazis, even as a heroic resistance movement struggled against both the regimes of Hitler and Stalin. That vandals would desecrate a modest memorial to the memory of Ukrainian nationalists slaughtered at Babyn Yar is outrageous. We most certainly hope the authorities in Kyiv will make every effort to bring those responsible to justice."