Ukraine and the World Commemorate Holodomor Victims on Remembrance Day

On Saturday, November 23, Ukraine commemorates the victims of the Holodomor, a man-made famine that occurred during multiple waves, most notably in 1932-1933. The remembrance day is observed every fourth Saturday of November to honor the millions of Ukrainians who perished during these tragedies.

This year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the significance of remembering the atrocities. In a Telegram post, Zelenskyy stated, “Our duty is to remember, to reflect, and to tell the world the truth about this cruel crime, about the genocide that was carried out against Ukrainians.”

As the world observes this solemn day, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVS) of Ukraine has released thousands of criminal cases related to the Holodomor. The documents, digitized and made publicly available, include over a thousand archival files and additional data on records destroyed in 1956.

Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko highlighted that these materials demonstrate the deliberate use of hunger as a tool of oppression against the Ukrainian people. “We must remember this so that we never surrender our freedom,” Klymenko stated.

The Holodomor, which spanned several years, including the famines of 1921-1923 and 1946-1947, remains one of the most devastating chapters in Ukrainian history.

The exact death toll remains unknown, but historians estimate that millions of Ukrainians died from starvation. In recent years, over 30 countries have recognized the Holodomor of 1932-1933 as a genocide against the Ukrainian nation, with the process of recognition accelerating amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In the European Union, leaders also marked the day by paying tribute to the victims of the 1932-1933 famine. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola expressed solidarity, stating, “On this day, Europe joins the people of Ukraine to remember and honor the millions of victims of the Holodomor.”

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani acknowledged the horror of the famine, stating, “Today, we remember the Holodomor, the destruction by hunger of more than six million people in Ukraine between 1932 and 1933 under Stalin’s orders.”

Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže, who reminded the world that Latvia recognized the Holodomor as genocide in 2008, drew a parallel to the present war, noting that Russia continues the policies of Stalin’s regime: “Then, it was through artificial famine; today, it is through missiles, shells, bombs, killings, rapes, and attacks on ports and energy facilities.”

The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs also commemorated the day, reaffirming their support for Ukraine’s resistance against Russian aggression.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also marked the occasion on social media, stating, “On the Day of Remembrance of the Holodomor Victims, we pay tribute to millions of Ukrainians that Stalin and his regime killed by hunger. The Kremlin tried to break the spine of our nation, eliminate entire generations. This horrible crime has no statute of limitations.”