ROMNY

ROMNY I:     US Commission No. UA18040101
Alternate name: Romen (Ukraine). Romny is located in Sumskaya at 50°45 33°28,100 km from Sumy and 56 km from Konotop. Present town population is 25,001 - 100,000 with 101 - 1,000 Jews.

• Town: Executive Committee, Chairman Andrusenko Vladimir Nikolaevich [Phone: (05448) 21374]. Vos'mirova L.V. [Phone: (05422)].
  
• Regional: Regional State Dept., Chairman Bilovol Alexandr Vladimirovich [Phone: (05448) 22480 or Chairman Epifanov.
  
• Jewish Community of Sumy.
  
• Caretaker and key holder: Murko Vladimir Anatolevich of 1st Per. Frunze 1.
  

The earliest known Jewish community was 1792. 1939 Jewish population (census) was 9747. The last known Hasidic burial was 1994. No other towns or villages used this unlandmarked cemetery. The isolated urban hillside and crown of a hill has no sign or marker. Reached by turning directly off a public road and off a private road, access is open to all. A broken masonry wall with gate that locks and other surround the cemetery. 501 to 5000 stones, most in original location with 25% - 50% toppled or broken, date from 1918. The cemetery has special sections for men, women, children, suicides, and spouses. Some tombstones have traces of painting on their surfaces, other metallic elements, portraits on stones and/or metal fences around graves. The cemetery contains no known mass graves. Municipality owns site used for Jewish cemetery only. Properties adjacent are commercial or industrial and residential. The cemetery boundaries are smaller now than 1939 because of commercial or industrial development. Occasionally, Jewish or non-Jewish private visitors and local resident visits. The cemetery was vandalized during World War II and frequently in the last ten years Jewish individuals within country and abroad cleaned stones, cleared vegetation, fixed wall and fixed gate 1950-1994. The government pays the regular caretaker. Within the limits of the cemetery are an ohel and other structures. Vegetation overgrowth is a constant problem, disturbing graves. Very serious threat: uncontrolled access. Serious threat: vandalism. Moderate threat: vegetation. Slight threat: weather erosion, pollution, existing and proposed nearby development.
Sokolova Eleonora Evgenievna of 253152, Kiev, Tycini Prospect 5, Apt. 68 [Phone: (044) 5505681] visited site and completed survey on 9/13/94. Interviewed on 9/13/94 were Murko Nadezhda Leonidonna of 1-t per. Frunze 1 and Unke Aleksandr Borisovich of Oktyabrskoy Revolyustii St. 54 [Phone: (05448) 32317]. Other documentation exists but was inaccessible.
ROMNY II:     US Commission No. UA18040501
The mass grave is located at W outskirts of town. See ROMNY I for town information. The last known Khabad Hasidic burial was in 1943. Jews from no other towns or villages were murdered at this unlandmarked mass grave. The suburban hillside, part of a municipal cemetery, has signs or plaques in local language mentioning the Holocaust. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all. No wall or fence or gate surrounds the mass grave. 1 to 20 common tombstones, all in original location, date from 20th century. No stones were removed. The site contains marked mass graves. Municipality owns property used for mixed burialss. Properties adjacent are commercial or industrial. The mass grave boundaries is larger now than 1939. Occasionally, organized individual tours and private visitors visit. This mass grave was not vandalized. Local/municipal authorities cleaned stones and cleared vegetation 1967 to 1996. Occasionally, authorities clean or clear. Within the limits of the mass grave are no structures. Moderate threat: existing nearby development. Slight threat: weather erosion, pollution, vegetation and vandalism.
Khodorkovsky Yuri Isaakovich, Apt. 23, 37a, Vozduhoflotsky pr., Kiev [Phone: (044)2769505] visited site on 15-20/10/96. Litvinenko Yury Anatolievich, architect of town [Phone: (05448)22029], was interviewed on 15/10/96.
ROMNY III:     US Commission No. UA18040502
The mass grave is located at S outskirts, road to Bahmach. See Romny I for town information. The last known Khabad Hasidic burial was in 1943. Jews from no other towns or villages were murdered at this unlandmarked mass grave. The suburban hillside, part of a municipal cemetery, has signs or plaques in local language mentioning the Holocaust. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all. No wall or fence or gate surrounds the mass grave. 1 to 20 common tombstones, all in original location, date from 20th century. No stones were removed. The site contains marked mass graves. Municipality owns property used for mixed burialss, Jewish mainly. Properties adjacent are agricultural. The mass grave boundaries is larger now than 1939. Occasionally, organized individual tours and private visitors visit. This mass grave was not vandalized. Local/municipal authorities cleaned stones and cleared vegetation 1967 to 1996. Occasionally, authorities clean or clear. Within the limits of the mass grave are no structures. Moderate threat: uncontrolled access and vegetation (seasonal). Slight threat: weather erosion, pollution and vandalism. No threat: existing and proposed nearby development.
Khodorkovsky Yuri Isaakovich, Apt. 23, 37a, Vozduhoflotsky pr., Kiev [Phone: (044) 2769505] visited site on 15-20/10/96. Litvinenko Y.A. [Phone: (05448) 22029] was interviewed on 15/10/96.
ROMNY IV:     US Commission No. UA18040503
The mass grave is located at the center of town. See Romny I for town information. The last known Khabad Hasidic burial was 1941. Jews from no other towns or villages were murdered at this unlandmarked mass grave. The urban flat land, part of a municipal cemetery, has signs or plaques in local language mentioning the Holocaust. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all. No wall, fence, or gate surrounds. 1 to 20 common tombstones, all in original location with none removed, date from 20th century. The site contains marked mass graves. Municipality owns property used for mixed burials. Properties adjacent are residential. The mass grave boundaries is larger now than 1939. Occasionally, organized individual tours and private visitors visit. This mass grave was not vandalized. Local/municipal authorities cleaned stones and cleared vegetation 1971 to 1996. Occasionally, authorities clean or clear. Within the limits of the mass grave are no structures. Moderate threat: vandalism and existing nearby development. Slight threat: uncontrolled access, pollution and proposed nearby development. No threat: weather erosion (seasonal) and vegetation.