Friends!

 This day 75 years ago, at Babyn Yar Nazis shot Olena Teliha - Ukrainian poet, social and political activist. She was only 35 years old. But she lived them with honor and dignity in the struggle for the future of Ukraine.

She was born in Ilyinsk near Moscow. Her father Ivan Opanasovych was a famous scientist, mother - daughter of an Orthodox priest. Teliha had two older brothers. When she was 11, the family moved to Kyiv. The future poet studied at a girls' school of Olexandra Duchynska, where taught several languages: Ukrainian, Russian, German and French. In Kiev, Olena's father became a professor at the Kiev Polytechnic Institute. They lived near the university, she enjoyed walks there. Not surprisingly, the first monument of Teliha appeared on the territory of the KPI in 2009.

In addition, Ivan Opanasovych headed the department in the Ministry of Railways in the days of the UNR. He was active in the Ukrainian liberation movement, it is not surprising that his family lived and grew up in an atmosphere of struggle and active public consciousness. Unfortunately, after the defeat of UNR father and one brother were forced to emigrate to the Czech Republic. The mother of other children still remained in Ukraine but not for a long time- she was scared for their safety and also went to Czechoslovakia. There, Olena entered the Ukrainian Pedagogical Institute in Prague, the historical-philological department. During her studies, she decided to speak only Ukrainian.

Olena lived in Podebrady. There she was formed as a person and talented writer. This with helped her another poet and former member of Ukrainian army Leonid Mosendz. He invited Olena to various meetings. In one of them she met Michael Teliha - her future husband. He was an engineer, UNR Army officer. Between them ignited the love that grew into a marriage.

Lucky was the poet in creative work, she began to publish her poems in "Literary and Scientific vistnyk."

In 1929 young family moved to Warsaw. There Teliha begins to correspond with Dontsov, wrote to his "Journal". Poet leaded an active social life, interested in any news from Ukraine.

In 1939 the Nazis occupied Poland. Then Olena Teliha fully befell what Nazism were and that it had to be defeated. Here the great role was played by her familiarity with Oleg Olzhych - famous poet and Deputy Head of the Organization of Ukrainian nationalists. Together they saw the bright future of the country only if he wins Ukrainian nationalist movement. Teliha wrote pro-Ukrainian leaflets and distributed them in Ukraine. She read a lot about it and mentally prepared to return to the place she considered home.

In July 1941, Olena Teliha with her husband and Ulas Samchuk crossed the river and went to the city. Finally, in October, she went to Kyiv - the city where she wanted to be. She began to engage the literary life, edit almanac "Timpanists", which contained works of the repressed Ukrainian writers.

In Kiev, Olena and Michael lived in poverty and in appalling conditions. Butthey didn’t want to leave, though Olena was warned of the danger. She was closely followed by the Gestapo, and finally the poet was seized at the premises of the Writers Union, which she headed. Oleg Olzhych came before, exhorted escape from Kyiv - but she refused. Michael Teliha, who loved his wife fully, voluntarily went to die with her.

According to legend, in a cell where was held Teliha, she left writing and drawing - sword trident. "Here Olena Teliha was sitting until she was shot" - these were her last words.

On the 25th of Februaryat 13.00 at Babi Yar, this terrible for all Ukrainian and Jewish place within 75 years after the death will be opened a monument to Olena Teliha and other Ukrainian nationalists, who were shot there by the Nazis.

We have to remember that terrible day. Olena wanted her country to develop,gain independence and sovereignty. And she put her life on the altar of this idea. Eternal memory.