In previous weeks, the conflict in Ukraine due to Russia’s invasion has escalated and demonstrated extreme violence. Violence which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy equated with that in Nazi Germany. Zelenskyy made specific references to tactics used on civilians by the Russian army to highlight the similarities in the atrocities. Through voicing his utter shock and sorrow over these events, he emphasized the underhanded methods by which Russia resembles the Nazi regime. He then called upon the American Jewish community for support, as they could understand the gravity of the situation due to its historical similarities with the violence in Nazi Germany.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated, “This is just a pure Nazi behavior. I can’t even qualify this in any different manner,” while speaking to the Conference of Presidents of American Jewish Organizations umbrellas group. The tactics he described to be “pure Nazi behavior” included Russians fighting outnumbered Ukrainian civilians, Russians blocking resources such as water and food from cities that had been attacked, and not letting captured civilians leave the towns that they inhabit. As a response to these tactics, Zelenskyy stated “All of this happened during Nazi times…the survival of the Ukrainian nation—the question will be the same as anti-Semitism…. All of these millions of people are going to be exterminated.”

In Nazi Germany, strategies such as employing Block Wardens were frequently used to supervise neighborhoods to ensure that no civilians were leaving certain towns and locations. There were also rules about food and water being brought into captured cities, therefore food rationing became frequent. Both of these and many other examples are becoming visible in modern-day Ukraine. This is why President Zelenskyy, who is Jewish himself, is depicting parallels between the two situations. As Zelenskyy continues to express concern over the growing similarities, his plea to the American Jewish community grows stronger.

When finishing his conversation with the Conference of Presidents’ umbrellas group, he told the crowd “They’re bombing the life out of everything that is moving.” In order to express solidarity with Ukraine, the American Jewish community should be able to respond to the claims made by Zelenskyy in a timely manner. Overseas support for Ukraine creates more visibility for their situation, which can increase the resources Ukrainians receive. Overall, the increased solidarity for Ukraine amongst people who understand the gravity of the situation allows for a wider net of activists and scholars to bring attention to possible solutions to aiding the displaced people of Ukraine.