Auschwitz Memorial condemns Russian invasion of Ukraine

The Auschwitz Memorial issued a statement in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. As residents could be seen leaving Kyiv and Russian forces crossed borders, the Auschwitz Memorial expressed solidarity with the Ukrainian people, and with peace. This comes as Russian President Putin claimed that Ukraine's leaders were "far-right nationalists and neo-Nazis."

"This morning, Russia attacked Ukraine. This act of barbarity will be judged by history, and its perpetrators, it is to be hoped, also, by the International Court of Justice," they wrote. The Poland memorial compared Russia's leaders to those of Nazi Germany.

"As we stand at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial, it is impossible to remain silent while, once again, innocent people are being killed purely because of insane pseudo-imperial megalomania.

"We express our absolute solidarity with the citizens and residents of the free, independent, and sovereign Ukraine and with all Russians who have the courage to oppose this war.

"At this moment, the free and democratic world must show if it has learned its lesson from the passivity of the 1930s. Today, it is clear that any symptom of indifference is a sign of complicity."

Russian leaders, reports Haaretz, claimed that Ukraine was committing genocide against residents in Luhansk and Donetsk, eastern districts of the Russian-bordered nation. Those two districts broke away from Kyiv eight years ago.

Putin has stated that his intention is to "demilitarize and denazify" Ukraine. These are charges that Ukrainian President Zelensky thoroughly denies.

Zelensky, who is Jewish, said that "Russia treacherously attacked our state in the morning, as Nazi Germany did in [the] WWII years. As of today, our countries are on different sides of world history. Russia has embarked on a path of evil, but Ukraine is defending itself & won't give up its freedom no matter what Moscow thinks."

President Biden issued a statement, saying "Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable."