| November, 2003 |
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.
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.
Since December 2002!
| Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Singapore |
| Посольство України в Республіці Сінгапур |