Day of Remembrance for Victims of Political Repression

Every year on the third Sunday of May, Ukraine commemorates the victims of political repressions — millions of people whose lives were ruined by the totalitarian Soviet regime. This memorial day was established by the Decree of the President of Ukraine of May 21, 2007 as a symbol of national grief, historical truth, and respect for all who suffered due to political persecution.

In the 1920s–1950s, Ukraine experienced one of the most tragic pages of its history. During mass repressions and the Great Terror, scientists, artists, teachers, clergy, military personnel, and peasants — everyone whom the totalitarian system considered “unreliable” — were destroyed. Thousands of people were unjustly arrested, sent to camps, deported or shot simply for their beliefs, their desire for freedom and their right to remain Ukrainians.

Today this topic sounds especially painful. In the conditions of a full-scale war, Ukraine is once again faced with cruelty, violence, deportations and persecution of the civilian population. Russian aggression has brought back to modern times the methods of terror that the world hoped to leave forever in the past.

For Zaporizhia Polytechnic National University, the Day of Remembrance of Victims of Political Repressions is an opportunity to honor the memory of the innocent victims, recall the tragic lessons of history, and emphasize the importance of freedom, human dignity, democracy, and the rule of law.

We bow our heads to the courage and steadfastness of those who fell victim to the repressive system. We remember everyone whose life was broken by the totalitarian regime. Only by preserving historical memory are we able to build a future based on freedom, justice, and independence of Ukraine.