Ukraine: Lviv residents mark the International Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation

Residents of Lviv paid tribute to the victims of the WWII at the memorial at the Citadel on Friday to mark the International Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation. After laying flowers to the monuments to victims of Communist repression, dozens of local residents, veterans and members of various public organidations and nationalist movements marched across the central streets of Ukraine's western city towards the Citadel, which was turned into a concentration camp by the German Nazis, known as "Stalag 328". After a requiem service, participants of the rally laid wreaths, flowers and lit candles to the cross, erected in memory of 140,000 people from various countries, killed in the camp by Nazis during the city's occupation in 1941-1944. This year Ukraine has for the first time celebrated the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation on May 8, the same date as the rest of Europe celebrates Victory in Europe Day, to mark the Allies' acceptance of the surrender of Nazi Germany in the Second World War in 1945. Memorial events dedicated to the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation, established by President Poroshenko's degree on March 24, were held across the country.