Ukrainian families named Righteous Among the Nations

March 26, 2009

KIEV, Ukraine (JTA) -- Israel's ambassador to Ukraine recognized six families as Righteous Among the Nations.

Amb. Zina Kalay-Kleitman presented awards and certificates to six families of the central Ukrainian city of Vinnitza who helped and saved Jews' lives during the Nazi occupation. The 15 children and grandchildren on Wednesday received the awards; all family members of the generation that saved the Jews have died.

While in Vinnitza, Kalay-Kleitman met with state officials to discuss strengthening ties between the Vinnitzky region and Israel. During World War II, the Nazis and their collaborators murdered some 205,000 residents of the Vinnitzky region, including 198,000 Jews.

There are about 4,000 to 5,000 Jews still living in the Vinnitzky region.

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