The Failed Russian Project "Memorial in Babin Yar" as a Tool for Manipulating Historical Memory - Yosef Zisels, Head of the Association of Jewish Public Organizations and Communities of Ukraine

Yosif Zisels, a well-known Ukrainian human rights activist and public figure of Jewish descent, told Ukraїner on April 29, 2025, how he opposed the project to create a memorial at Babyn Yar, initiated by Russian businessmen in 2016. This project became the cause of political disagreements and accusations of manipulating history. It is important to note that Russia used the memorial as a tool of influence in the context of the hybrid war against Ukraine.
Yosif Zisels is a Ukrainian public figure and human rights activist of Jewish descent. In the 1970s, he actively participated in the Ukrainian dissident movement, particularly joining the Ukrainian Helsinki Group, for which he was arrested twice. In independent Ukraine, he revived the local Jewish community as a co-founder and leader of the Association of Jewish Public Organizations and Communities of Ukraine, and also served as Executive Vice President of the Congress of National Communities of Ukraine.
History of the Project and Its Goals
The idea of creating a memorial at Babyn Yar was proposed by Russian businessmen, including Mikhail Friedman, German Khan, and Pavel Fuks, with the support of director Illya Khrzhanovsky. The memorial project began in 2016 with an expected investment of "around 100 million dollars." However, from the very beginning, the project raised many questions, especially regarding the involvement of Russian oligarchs closely linked to the government of Putin.
However, as noted by Yosif Zisels, the project started earlier, when in 2015, Vadim Rabinovich, a Ukrainian politician and businessman, attempted to initiate the memorial at Babyn Yar. Rabinovich leased land at the site of the Babyn Yar tragedy and tried to raise funds for construction, but his efforts were unsuccessful. Later, through his connections with Russian businessmen, the idea of the memorial was passed to Friedman and Khan, which caused protests among Ukrainian public figures.
"Due to his acquaintance with Russian businessmen, he imposed the idea of creating a memorial on them. Putin's entourage found rational grounds in this idea to influence Ukraine in the context of the hybrid war. This is my reconstruction of the events of that time," said Zisels.
The project caused dissatisfaction and accusations of political manipulation, especially from Ukraine, where the events of World War II and the Holocaust tragedy are important elements of historical memory.
"Somewhere in August 2015, serious negotiations began with the Kyiv authorities regarding the project's implementation. When I was first told about it, I said that we would do everything to prevent them from doing it. At the same time, a Ukrainian project around the Institute of Ukrainian History slowly began to develop. Thus, in 2016, a confrontation arose."
Political Influence and the Russian Connection
Amid political tensions between Ukraine and Russia, the memorial project attracted even more attention. Russian sponsors such as Friedman and Khan, despite their Ukrainian roots, were linked to the Kremlin and known for their close ties to Russian authorities. In response, Ukrainian public figures, including Zisels, began actively opposing the project, accusing it of attempting to distort history and influence public opinion.
"What got lost in the narratives over time? The role in World War II. The famous director Sergei Loznitsa came to shoot a film about Babyn Yar, supposedly documentary, with Friedman's money. It was a very bad script, emphasizing the role of Ukrainians in the shootings at Babyn Yar, which historically did not happen. There are no documentary footage. And they simply inserted text that Ukrainian nationalists shot Jews at Babyn Yar. This is how the struggle unfolded before the start of the full-scale war. Now they say: 'The war has put everything in its place.' But they are still hiding and waiting for Ukraine's defeat. They hope to emerge again," claimed Yosif Zisels.
International Reaction and Israel's Role
The Babyn Yar memorial project sparked widespread resonance in international circles, especially among Jewish organizations. In Israel, where preserving the memory of the Holocaust and World War II tragedies is part of national identity, the project was met with criticism. The Israeli public supported the view that the memorial should be a Ukrainian project, reflecting the truth and independence of Ukraine, not a tool for Russian propaganda.
"I want this to be a Ukrainian project from start to finish. This is Ukraine's land, this is Ukraine's history. We need to develop our own Ukrainian view of our entire history. Even if this history is bitter in places. Because we need to grow by dealing with the bitterness of certain things in life," emphasized Yosif Zisels.
Conclusion: The Importance of Preserving Historical Truth
The Babyn Yar memorial project became a symbol of the struggle for historical truth, freedom, and the independence of Ukraine. The issues related to this project raise not only questions about preserving memory but also about fighting political manipulations that continue even in wartime. As Yosif Zisels noted, preserving historical truth and its correct perception is important not only for Ukraine but for the whole world to prevent the distortion of history for political purposes.

What Today?

National Historical and Memorial Reserve "Babyn Yar" was created to educate citizens about the tragic events of mass extermination by the Nazis of Kyiv residents and prisoners of war at Babyn Yar — https://babynyar.gov.ua/
Babyn Yar – National Historical and Memorial Reserve
The place of tragedy that became a symbol of the Holocaust. The inexpressible pain of all humanity and a monument to the price of human life.
Menorah
On this bronze memorial, the words from the Bible are inscribed in two languages: "The voice of your brother's blood cries out to me from the earth." Heavy, painful, full of sadness, but so accurate and honest. A living memory of the Jews shot during the occupation of Kyiv. The unveiling of the bronze menorah, a symbol of Jewish culture, took place on the 50th anniversary of the Babyn Yar tragedy in 1991.
Symbolic Synagogue "A Place for Reflection"
On May 14, 2021, a symbolic synagogue appeared on the slopes of Babyn Yar. This day marked the first commemoration of Ukrainians who saved Jews during World War II. The site was chosen deliberately, as the slope near the Menorah had long been considered a place of sorrow and prayer. Decorated like the old synagogues destroyed during the war, the "place for reflection" opens like a book for all those who wish to honor the memory of the victims of the tragedy.
NAnews https://nikk.agency/ continues to follow events related to the Babyn Yar memorial and its political consequences. The questions of memory, truth, and historical identity remain important for all nations, and especially for Ukraine. https://nikk.agency/en/the-failed-russian/