The Hungarian Ambassador to Ukraine Erno Keszken and Consul Antal Suromi paid an official working visit to the Khmelnytskyi region. The diplomats met with the heads of the cities of Khmelnytskyi and Kamianets-Podilskyi and aimed to contribute to the establishment of strengthening economic and cultural ties between the countries. But a special place in the delegation's visit was occupied by the meeting with the Director of the Khmelnytskyi Charitable Foundation "Hesed Besht" Igor Ratushny and representatives of the community, for which there are reasons.
You can learn about Erno Keskens' visit from the story of journalists from TRK "Misto".
The history of Hungary and Ukraine has many common events, but not all of them have positive consequences. During the Second World War, a tragedy occurred that became common for both the two states and the Jewish people. In 1942, the fascists and their accomplices drove several tens of thousands of Jews to the city of Kamianets-Podilskyi (together with prisoners of war, the number of dead is 85 thousand people), who were shot on the former outskirts of the city. The mass graves, which are now located almost in the city center, are looked after by both the local authorities and the Jewish community with the assistance of the Khmelnytskyi Charitable Foundation "Hesed Besht". In 2009, after the joint reconstruction of the monuments, the Hungarian Consul Antal Suromi visited here for the first time, which began his acquaintance with the Jewish community of the Khmelnytskyi region.
In Khmelnytskyi, in addition to the planned official visits, representatives of the Hungarian diplomatic corps visited the Community Center "Thia", where they got acquainted with the work of the institution and had the opportunity to talk with representatives of the Jewish community. Before that, they also visited the Memorial to the Victims of the Holocaust on Silskohospodarska Street, which is currently under reconstruction. Volunteer archivists of the Hesed Besht Charitable Foundation Semen Milman and Leonid Zapadenko prepared for the guests archival data provided by the Security Service of Ukraine after the declassification of the circumstances of the execution of former compatriots in the Khmelnytskyi region.
The next day, the diplomats visited Kamianets-Podilskyi, where they also visited the reconstructed Regional Center and met with its head Margarita Shopnik. This high-ranking delegation was the first to see the reconstructed Regional Center. It was extremely pleasant to hear high praise for the work done (as in the Regional Center "Thia") for the benefit of the community.
After a press conference at the Kamianets-Podilskyi City Council, the guests, together with representatives of the local council, honored the memory of those who died at the site of the mass shootings. Both sides plan to reconstruct and improve the area of the graves, as the omnipotent time constantly makes its adjustments to the overall picture.
All parties to the meetings hope for mutual understanding, common progress, and cultural and economic exchange between countries and communities. United by common events and motivated by the desire for mutual integration, we all strive for prosperity and cooperation for the benefit of society.
