On Saturday, 8 November 2025, the staff of the Media Center Directorate organised the bus excursion ‘Kyiv Through the Centuries’, which attracted those among the diplomatic community who appreciate historical journeys.
Staff members from the Embassies of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden joined the tour, as well as representatives of international organisations – the European Union and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
The diplomats visited the Babyn Yar National Historical Memorial Preserve, a site that stands as a tragic testament to the Holocaust and a symbol of profound human suffering. Today, it is the largest international burial ground in Ukraine. During the excursion, participants learned about the mass executions of Kyiv’s Jewish civilian population during the Second World War. More than one hundred thousand people were killed at Babyn Yar, including civilians, prisoners of war, members of the resistance, partisans, hostages, members of the Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists, and individuals with mental disabilities.
The tour also included notable landmarks of the capital. Participants visited the ancient and enigmatic Kyrylivska Church, the second most significant sacred monument after Saint Sophia’s Cathedral to have survived from the Kyivan Rus era. They also visited the Pharmacy Museum in Podil, founded in 1728 by the German pharmacist Johann Heiter, which operated for more than 111 years.
Representatives of foreign missions noted that the excursion left a strong emotional impression and encouraged reflection on the difficult pages of Ukraine’s history.
