Crimean Tatars faced annihilation 79 years ago, but nation endured and will live freely – Zelenskyy

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During the initial two days of the genocide (May 18-20, 1944), over 183,000 Crimean Tatars were forcibly evicted and deported from Crimea. Tragically, more than 46% of them, nearly every other person, perished either during the resettlement or within the first few years of exile until 1947. By that time, the total number of deported Crimean Tatars reached 238,000, with 110,000 fatalities.

Zelenskyy highlighted the significance of the date, which also marks Ukrainian Vyshyvanka Day, by sharing a photo of himself in his Telegram channel wearing a vyshyvanka adorned with symbols representing the unity of the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar peoples.

“79 years ago on this day, the Soviet authorities began the deportation of the Crimean Tatar people,” Zelenskyy recalled.

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“They sought to annihilate a people, deprive them of their homes, and strip them of their right to life. However, the people endured and will live freely! Eternal memory to all our people whose lives were taken by totalitarian regimes! We honor our nations, their strength, and their culture!”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has also released a statement urging partners to acknowledge the forced deportation of the Crimean Tatar people in 1944 as a genocide. A similar statement was also issued by the Ukrainian World Congress.

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