Challenges in Holocaust Studies during the Russian War Against Ukraine. Open Lecture at Vinnytsia Pedagogical University
The NotBox educational and research hub of Mykhailo Kotsiubynskyi Vinnytsia State Pedagogical University recently hosted a guest lecture for students of the Faculty of History and International Relations. The lecture, titled Challenges in Holocaust Studies during the Russian War Against Ukraine, was led by the head of the Ukrainian Centre for Holocaust Studies Anatolii Podolskyi.
This lecture addressed both historical and contemporary issues, highlighting that similar crimes are currently being committed by russian occupiers against Ukrainians. These crimes include mass murder of civilians, forced deportation, horrific conditions of detention for Ukrainian prisoners of war, and the destruction of cultural heritage sites.
During the event, participants discussed the methodology of Holocaust research, the challenges of preserving the memory of Nazi crime victims, and the connection between these historical events and the current russian war against Ukraine. Special attention was given to how russian propaganda manipulates historical facts and tries to justify aggression against Ukraine by distorting interpretations of World War II events.
The lecturer emphasized the importance of preserving historical truth and countering disinformation, especially during wartime. Students actively participated in the discussion, addressing questions about Holocaust study sources, memory site preservation, and the role of historians in countering falsifications.
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