Great Famine (Holodomor) of 1932-33 in Ukraine
In the history of the 20th century Ukraine has suffered from the famine twice. For the first time it was
caused mostly by the objective factors like low crops in 1921, economic consequences of the 1st World
War and Civil War (1918-21) as well as failure of the agricultural policy of the communist regime, etc.
The 1932-33 totalitarian regime-masterminded devastating famine was, first of all, caused by the political
factors and took place in Zaporizzhia, Donetsk, Katerinoslavsk, Mykolayiv and Odessa regions of
Ukraine. The main task was to eliminate a numerous layer of wealthy and state independent countryside
entrepreneurs. By the Soviet Government Decree any trade in villages was banned; any food supplies to
villages was suspended; the systems of mass confiscation of the grain seeds funds and enormous state
grain purchase plans were introduced. Any violators were severely prosecuted and could get sentenced
to 10 years of imprisonment or death penalty.
The Ukrainian share in the state grain purchase of the entire Soviet Union was over 1/3 and exceeded
the output plans for North Caucasian and Central Chernozem regions of Russia, Kazakhstan and
Moscow region taken together.
In the especially set up network of “Torgsin” shops the peasants had to exchange the bread they were
just deprived over the gold. Along with the peasants elimination, the political repressions against the male
population of Ukraine, destruction of churches and physical liquidation of priests have also taken place.
Thus, mass physical elimination of generations of the Ukrainian peasants became a conscious terrorist
act of the political system against its own people, which demolished the very basic social background of
the nation, its traditions, spiritual culture and originality.
According to a number of researches made by historians and demographs, Ukraine has lost from 7 up to
10 million lives as a result of famishing, typhus epidemic, mass cannibalism, repressions, suicides based
on mental disorders and social collapse. The entire scales of the tragedy can only be comprehended with
the depth of the soul of every civilized and educated person.
The famine of 1932-33 is not a physiological phenomena but a kind of a cynic political terror. These
problems are object for researches by historians, sociologists, lawyers and politicians. The
consequences of this famine are the global social and humanitarian catastrophe not only in the history of
the Ukrainians but of the whole mankind.
In 1988 the US Congress and International Lawyers’ Commission have recognized the historical fact
that the totalitarian regime-masterminded devastating famine took place in 1932-33.
On October 20, 2003 the US Congress has adopted Resolution expressing the sense of the House of
Representatives regarding this man-made famine (1st Session, H.RES. 356).
In November 2003 during the 58th UN General Assembly session the below statement on the seventieth
anniversary of the Great Famine of 1932-1933 in Ukraine was adopted:
Joint statement
by the delegations of Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Egypt,
Georgia, Guatemala, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Nauru, Pakistan, Qatar, the Republic of
Moldova, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, the Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Timor-
Leste, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates and the United States of America on the seventieth
anniversary of the Great Famine of 1932-1933 in Ukraine (Holodomor)
In the former Soviet Union millions of men, women and children fell victims to the cruel actions and
policies of the totalitarian regime. The Great Famine of 1932-1933 in Ukraine (Holodomor), which took
from 7 million to 10 million innocent lives and became a national tragedy for the Ukrainian people. In this
regard we note activities in observance of the seventieth anniversary of this Famine, in particular
organised by the Government of Ukraine.
Honouring the seventieth anniversary of the Ukrainian tragedy, we also commemorate the memory
of millions of Russians, Kazakhs and representatives of other nationalities who died of starvation in the
Volga River region, Northern Caucasus, Kazakhstan and in other parts of the former Soviet Union, as a
result of civil war and forced collectivisation, leaving deep scars in the consciousness of future
generations.
Expressing sympathy to the victims of the Great Famine, we call upon all Member States, the United
Nations and its special agencies, international and regional organisations, as well as non-governmental
organisations, foundations and associations to pay tribute to the memory of those who perished during
that tragic period of history.
Recognising the importance of raising public awareness on the tragic events in the history of mankind
for their prevention in future, we deplore the acts and policies that brought about mass starvation and
death of millions of people. We do not want to settle scores with the past, it could not be changed, but
we are convinced that exposing violations of human rights, preserving historical records and restoring the
dignity of victims through acknowledgement of their suffering, will guide future societies and help to avoid
similar catastrophes in the future. We need that as many people as possible learn about this tragedy and
consider that this knowledge will strengthen effectiveness of the rule of law and enhance respect for
human rights and fundamental freedoms.
On September 13, 2004 HE Mr. Leonid Kuchma, President of Ukraine addressed to the participants of
the solemn commemoration the victims of Holodomor in New York withe following letter:
Dear Compatriots!
Our today’s meeting is yet another important occasion to honor the memory of millions of Ukrainians
who have put their lives on the cruel altar of the totalitarian Soviet regime.
In the history of Ukraine there are wounds that never heal and victims who will never be forgotten. This
everlasting pain grows stronger every year as we uncover the truth about the cruel fate of Ukraine under
the frightful Stalin regime.
The creation of our own Ukrainian State, cherished by many generations of our ancestors and based on
the facets of justice, freedom and democracy, is the firm guarantee that those tragic days will never come
back to our land. Freedom from the totalitarian Soviet system has opened up the boundless potential of
our people, which has become the main source of today’s undeniable success of our state, strengthening
of its power and independence.
For many years ahead the Ukrainian people will yet feel irreversible consequences of Holodomor of
1932-1933. We also should not forget the tragic dates of holodomors of 1921 – 1923 and 1946-1947.
Honoring our own history should become a cause not only of scholars and historians, but also of the
whole Ukrainian nation. Otherwise its spiritual development is not possible.
The bells of past tragedies are still tolling in the heart of Ukraine. They have to be heard in all corners of
the modern world - as a tribute to those who perished, as a remainder to those who live.
Let us keep everlasting memory of those who perished. Let holodomors never return, and never be
forgotten. Let they remain in our hearts as a tribute to those perished, as a memory of pain, suffered by
our people, and of its unbreakable strength.
In the history of the 20th century Ukraine has suffered from the famine twice. For the first time it was
caused mostly by the objective factors like low crops in 1921, economic consequences of the 1st World
War and Civil War (1918-21) as well as failure of the agricultural policy of the communist regime, etc.
The 1932-33 totalitarian regime-masterminded devastating famine was, first of all, caused by the political
factors and took place in Zaporizzhia, Donetsk, Katerinoslavsk, Mykolayiv and Odessa regions of
Ukraine. The main task was to eliminate a numerous layer of wealthy and state independent countryside
entrepreneurs. By the Soviet Government Decree any trade in villages was banned; any food supplies to
villages was suspended; the systems of mass confiscation of the grain seeds funds and enormous state
grain purchase plans were introduced. Any violators were severely prosecuted and could get sentenced
to 10 years of imprisonment or death penalty.
The Ukrainian share in the state grain purchase of the entire Soviet Union was over 1/3 and exceeded
the output plans for North Caucasian and Central Chernozem regions of Russia, Kazakhstan and
Moscow region taken together.
In the especially set up network of “Torgsin” shops the peasants had to exchange the bread they were
just deprived over the gold. Along with the peasants elimination, the political repressions against the male
population of Ukraine, destruction of churches and physical liquidation of priests have also taken place.
Thus, mass physical elimination of generations of the Ukrainian peasants became a conscious terrorist
act of the political system against its own people, which demolished the very basic social background of
the nation, its traditions, spiritual culture and originality.
According to a number of researches made by historians and demographs, Ukraine has lost from 7 up to
10 million lives as a result of famishing, typhus epidemic, mass cannibalism, repressions, suicides based
on mental disorders and social collapse. The entire scales of the tragedy can only be comprehended with
the depth of the soul of every civilized and educated person.
The famine of 1932-33 is not a physiological phenomena but a kind of a cynic political terror. These
problems are object for researches by historians, sociologists, lawyers and politicians. The
consequences of this famine are the global social and humanitarian catastrophe not only in the history of
the Ukrainians but of the whole mankind.
In 1988 the US Congress and International Lawyers’ Commission have recognized the historical fact
that the totalitarian regime-masterminded devastating famine took place in 1932-33.
On October 20, 2003 the US Congress has adopted Resolution expressing the sense of the House of
Representatives regarding this man-made famine (1st Session, H.RES. 356).
In November 2003 during the 58th UN General Assembly session the below statement on the seventieth
anniversary of the Great Famine of 1932-1933 in Ukraine was adopted:
Joint statement
by the delegations of Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Egypt,
Georgia, Guatemala, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Nauru, Pakistan, Qatar, the Republic of
Moldova, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, the Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Timor-
Leste, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates and the United States of America on the seventieth
anniversary of the Great Famine of 1932-1933 in Ukraine (Holodomor)
In the former Soviet Union millions of men, women and children fell victims to the cruel actions and
policies of the totalitarian regime. The Great Famine of 1932-1933 in Ukraine (Holodomor), which took
from 7 million to 10 million innocent lives and became a national tragedy for the Ukrainian people. In this
regard we note activities in observance of the seventieth anniversary of this Famine, in particular
organised by the Government of Ukraine.
Honouring the seventieth anniversary of the Ukrainian tragedy, we also commemorate the memory
of millions of Russians, Kazakhs and representatives of other nationalities who died of starvation in the
Volga River region, Northern Caucasus, Kazakhstan and in other parts of the former Soviet Union, as a
result of civil war and forced collectivisation, leaving deep scars in the consciousness of future
generations.
Expressing sympathy to the victims of the Great Famine, we call upon all Member States, the United
Nations and its special agencies, international and regional organisations, as well as non-governmental
organisations, foundations and associations to pay tribute to the memory of those who perished during
that tragic period of history.
Recognising the importance of raising public awareness on the tragic events in the history of mankind
for their prevention in future, we deplore the acts and policies that brought about mass starvation and
death of millions of people. We do not want to settle scores with the past, it could not be changed, but
we are convinced that exposing violations of human rights, preserving historical records and restoring the
dignity of victims through acknowledgement of their suffering, will guide future societies and help to avoid
similar catastrophes in the future. We need that as many people as possible learn about this tragedy and
consider that this knowledge will strengthen effectiveness of the rule of law and enhance respect for
human rights and fundamental freedoms.
On September 13, 2004 HE Mr. Leonid Kuchma, President of Ukraine addressed to the participants of
the solemn commemoration the victims of Holodomor in New York withe following letter:
Dear Compatriots!
Our today’s meeting is yet another important occasion to honor the memory of millions of Ukrainians
who have put their lives on the cruel altar of the totalitarian Soviet regime.
In the history of Ukraine there are wounds that never heal and victims who will never be forgotten. This
everlasting pain grows stronger every year as we uncover the truth about the cruel fate of Ukraine under
the frightful Stalin regime.
The creation of our own Ukrainian State, cherished by many generations of our ancestors and based on
the facets of justice, freedom and democracy, is the firm guarantee that those tragic days will never come
back to our land. Freedom from the totalitarian Soviet system has opened up the boundless potential of
our people, which has become the main source of today’s undeniable success of our state, strengthening
of its power and independence.
For many years ahead the Ukrainian people will yet feel irreversible consequences of Holodomor of
1932-1933. We also should not forget the tragic dates of holodomors of 1921 – 1923 and 1946-1947.
Honoring our own history should become a cause not only of scholars and historians, but also of the
whole Ukrainian nation. Otherwise its spiritual development is not possible.
The bells of past tragedies are still tolling in the heart of Ukraine. They have to be heard in all corners of
the modern world - as a tribute to those who perished, as a remainder to those who live.
Let us keep everlasting memory of those who perished. Let holodomors never return, and never be
forgotten. Let they remain in our hearts as a tribute to those perished, as a memory of pain, suffered by
our people, and of its unbreakable strength.
Since December 2002!
| Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Singapore |
| Посольство України в Республіці Сінгапур |