In Ukraine, the victims of the Holodomor famine are being commemorated on the 90th anniversary of the tragedy. The Holodomor famine, which occurred from 1932 to 1933, resulted in the death of at least 3.9 million people. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife attended events organized in Kyiv, including a prayer at the Kyiv-Pechersk Cathedral and a visit to the National Museum of the Holodomor. International dignitaries, including the presidents of Latvia and Switzerland and the prime minister of Lithuania, also participated in the commemorative events. The White House issued a statement condemning the inhumane policies of Joseph Stalin and his regime, which seized Ukraine's grain and farms during the Holodomor. The statement also highlighted Russia's current aggression towards Ukraine's agricultural infrastructure. The Ukrainian Institute of National Memory estimates that the famine was intentional and resulted from Stalin's policies and the collectivization of agriculture. Ukraine considers the Holodomor a genocide of the Ukrainian people.
The Holodomor genocide had a devastating impact on Ukraine, hindering its statehood and development. Survivors who escaped Ukraine were able to speak about the Holodomor in Western countries, but many lived in fear of Soviet punishment. The descendants of Holodomor survivors have formed the Holodomor Descendants Network to capture and record oral histories. The network recently worked with Ukrainian students to increase their knowledge and understanding of the Holodomor. The trauma of the Holodomor continued to affect survivors and their descendants, leading to fear and an inability to resist further Russification. The effects of the Holodomor include high alcoholism rates, high child mortality, lower life expectancy, lack of media freedom, fear of punishment for speaking freely, and increased corruption. The healing process for Ukraine will be long and difficult, especially given the ongoing conflict with Russia. It is important to remember and commemorate the innocent victims of the Holodomor and to speak the truth about what happened. [24a9d31a] [16cdd249] [c1d9c362]