Prelude to Babyn Yar: Soviet print media and the dilemma facing Kyiv’s Jews in summer 1941*

This article explores the messages of Soviet propaganda, particularly through the prominent newspaper Sovetskaya Ukraina, which could have been of relevance to the evacuation decisions of Kyiv’s Jewish population during the early months of the German invasion in 1941. In addition to analyzing reports of anti-Jewish policies, the article delves into additional factors that could have influenced evacuation decisions, mainly the assessment of the wartime situation around Kyiv. The article aims to offer a nuanced and comprehensive assessment of the complexities of Soviet propaganda messages in Kyiv within this period. However, the study is limited by the inaccessibility of certain archival collections due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.