Roza Tapanova Took Part in the Memorial Ceremony “Six Million Hearts”

On January 27, the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the memorial ceremony “Six Million Hearts” took place. Roza Tapanova, Director General of the National Historical and Memorial Reserve “Babyn Yar,” participated in the event and delivered a keynote address.

In her speech, Roza Tapanova spoke about memory as a form of responsibility — not only toward the past, but also toward the present and the future. She emphasized that the Holocaust is both a tragedy of history and a moral test for contemporary society.

“Do we remember enough? Why does evil repeat itself? And what does memory mean in our everyday actions?” — these questions, she noted, remain critically important today. Memory, she stressed, is not only about mourning; it is a conscious choice, a moral obligation, and a call to action.

In 2026, the National Historical and Memorial Reserve “Babyn Yar” dedicates its work to the keepers of memory — people who preserved the truth, refused to remain silent, and acted despite danger and the pressure of the Soviet totalitarian regime. This year also marks the 85th anniversary of the Babyn Yar tragedy.

The first commemorative event of the year is the exhibition “In Search of Lost Meaning. Matvii Vaisberg,” currently on view at the Ukrainian House. The exhibition creates a space where art becomes a living conversation about dignity, pain, and the light that human beings are capable of finding even in the darkest times.

“Memory of such immeasurable tragedies as the Holocaust helps us defend our home, our country, and our shared future,” Roza Tapanova concluded.

A video from the memorial ceremony “Six Million Hearts” accompanies this news item.