As part of his official visit to Kyiv, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, together with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, visited the Babyn Yar National Historical and Memorial Reserve to participate in a ceremony honoring the memory of the victims of the Holocaust.

The ceremony took place at one of the most symbolic and tragic Holocaust sites in Ukraine.

Among those attending were Oleg Vyshniakov, Honorary Consul of the State of Israel in Western Ukraine; Andriy Rikota, Honorary Consul of the State of Israel in Southern Ukraine; Rabbi Raphael Rutman, Executive Vice President of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine (FJCU); Andriy Zaika, founder and head of KKL Ukraine; David Ben Nun, CEO of UDC.

Rabbi Raphael Rutman recited the traditional Jewish memorial prayer "El Malei Rachamim" in memory of the victims.

Speaking on behalf of Ukraine’s Jewish community, Rabbi Meir Stambler, Chairman of the FJCU, addressed the Israeli minister, stating:

“Israel’s destruction of key Iranian assets is a significant form of indirect assistance to Ukraine. It helps reduce the military pressure on us. We fully support you—for the sake of Israel and Ukraine.”

Roza Tapanova, Director of the Babyn Yar National Historical and Memorial Reserve, emphasized the importance of the visit:

“The presence of the Foreign Ministers of Ukraine and Israel at Babyn Yar is a powerful gesture of international solidarity, historical responsibility, and respect for the memory of the victims. We are sincerely grateful to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and to the State of Israel for this visit. It is deeply meaningful for preserving remembrance and strengthening intergovernmental dialogue based on shared values.”