Sergii Tiurin, Head of the Regional Military Administration, held an online meeting with Vadim Altskan, representative of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (Washington D.C.) on March 31, which marks the third anniversary of Bucha’s liberation from russian invaders. Director of the State Archives of Khmelnytskyi Region Kateryna Burduvalis and advisor to the Head of the Regional Military Administration on international affairs Viktoria Tarasiuk also joined the discussion.

As the meeting commenced, Head of the region expressed his gratitude to American partners for their support of Ukraine during this difficult time. He noted that the current war waged by russia against Ukraine has evident historical parallels with the horrors of World War II. Similar to how the nazis exterminated Jews only because of their origin, the new aggressor is seeking to destroy Ukrainians today. Recalling the events of three years ago, when our soldiers liberated the city of Bucha from russian invaders, the world saw the true face of russian occupation: tortured people, bodies of murdered people in the streets, makeshift graves in the yards of ordinary houses. This tragedy has become a symbol of the invaders’ cruelty, as well as a reminder of the importance of fighting for freedom and justice. Sergii Tiurin emphasized the significance of documenting war events, preserving historical memory and cooperating with international partners.

“We greatly appreciate the support of the United States of America and American people. Despite the unstable geopolitical situation, we all strive for peace and victory. I am confident that our cooperation with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the State Archives of the Khmelnytskyi Region is going to help preserve the memory of past and present events so that they do not happen again in the future,” said Sergii Tiurin.

In response, Vadim Altskan reaffirmed the unwavering support of Ukraine by the American community, and emphasized the importance of joint projects.

The parties discussed the possibility of organizing a special event with archivists in attendance to draw parallels between last century’s events and contemporary realities in Ukraine. This will help preserve historical memory and foster a deeper understanding of the consequences of totalitarian regimes.

The Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D. C. is a national institution in the United States of America, which provides for the documentation, study, interpretation of Holocaust history, and preservation of the memory of its victims. Since its opening in 1993, the museum has welcomed more than 47 million visitors and holds one of the world’s largest collections of archival documents, artifacts, and eyewitness testimonies of the tragedy.

As the meeting concluded, Sergii Tiurin once again expressed his gratitude to Vadim Altskan, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, as well as all the American people for their support, and emphasized the importance of preserving historical truth and active international cooperation.