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.
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.
Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Singapore
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Explanatory note on the remembrance of the
Great Famine (Holodomor) of 1932 - 1933 in Ukraine
1. 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 the Government of Ukraine is organizing activities
observing the Seventy-fifth anniversary of this Famine.
2. On November 7, 2003, a number of countries signed a Joint Statement on the 70th
anniversary of the Great Famine of 1932-33 in Ukraine (Holodomor) that was later on circulated as
an official document of the UN General Assembly. In this document (currently supported by 64
countries) Holodomor was officially recognized as the national tragedy of the Ukrainian people,
caused by the cruel actions and policies of the totalitarian regime.
3. In our view it is obvious that raising public awareness on the tragic events in the history of
mankind and their prevention in future is crucially important.
The remembrance of acts and policies that brought about mass starvation and death of
millions of people, preserving historical records and restoring the dignity of victims through
acknowledgement of their suffering, should, in our view, guide future societies and help to avoid
similar catastrophes in the future.
4. Considering UNESCO role in “building peace in the minds of men” by promoting tolerance,
understanding and dialogue between nations, as well as its impact on global educational policies
and practices, it seems advisable that the knowledge about the tragedy of Holodomor is
disseminated through UNESCO framework to ensure that the lessons of this tragic page are
inculcated by young generations.
5. The adoption of this resolution is also a means of expressing sympathy to the victims of the
Great Famine of 1932-1933 in Ukraine by UNESCO Member-States, its partners, non-
governmental organizations, foundations and associations and thus paying tribute to the memory
of those who perished during that tragic period of history.
Great Famine (Holodomor) of 1932 - 1933 in Ukraine
1. 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 the Government of Ukraine is organizing activities
observing the Seventy-fifth anniversary of this Famine.
2. On November 7, 2003, a number of countries signed a Joint Statement on the 70th
anniversary of the Great Famine of 1932-33 in Ukraine (Holodomor) that was later on circulated as
an official document of the UN General Assembly. In this document (currently supported by 64
countries) Holodomor was officially recognized as the national tragedy of the Ukrainian people,
caused by the cruel actions and policies of the totalitarian regime.
3. In our view it is obvious that raising public awareness on the tragic events in the history of
mankind and their prevention in future is crucially important.
The remembrance of acts and policies that brought about mass starvation and death of
millions of people, preserving historical records and restoring the dignity of victims through
acknowledgement of their suffering, should, in our view, guide future societies and help to avoid
similar catastrophes in the future.
4. Considering UNESCO role in “building peace in the minds of men” by promoting tolerance,
understanding and dialogue between nations, as well as its impact on global educational policies
and practices, it seems advisable that the knowledge about the tragedy of Holodomor is
disseminated through UNESCO framework to ensure that the lessons of this tragic page are
inculcated by young generations.
5. The adoption of this resolution is also a means of expressing sympathy to the victims of the
Great Famine of 1932-1933 in Ukraine by UNESCO Member-States, its partners, non-
governmental organizations, foundations and associations and thus paying tribute to the memory
of those who perished during that tragic period of history.
REMEMBRANCE OF VICTIMS
OF THE GREAT FAMINE (HOLODOMOR) IN UKRAINE
OF THE GREAT FAMINE (HOLODOMOR) IN UKRAINE