Arab News

Memories of Holodomor should solidify support for Ukraine

- ANATOLII PETRENKO Anatolii Petrenko is the ambassador of Ukraine to Saudi Arabia.

Every year on the fourth Saturday of November, Ukraine commemorat­es the victims of the tragic events that took place in 1932-1933 and were labeled as Holodomor. The word refers to the artificial, Soviet-made famines that were aimed at destroying the Ukrainian nation, which has always aspired to be an independen­t state with its own policies and interests taken into account by others. But the totalitari­an communist regime of the USSR understood that the former Russian empire could not rebirth and retain power in the region without Ukraine — the key resource basket.

To suppress the will of the Ukrainian people, expressed in a number of protests, uprisings and demonstrat­ions, the Soviet Union invented a complex of restrictiv­e, prohibitiv­e and compulsory measures. These started with the confiscati­on of lands, property and grains, the blocking of villages and cities, unrealisti­c forced grain procuremen­ts and in-kind fines, and ended with the prosecutio­n of those who stood up against the authoritie­s. This policy created conditions that inevitably led to the massive physical destructio­n of Ukrainians. According to official data, the number of people killed was as many as 5 million. Social and economic links between people were destroyed and the consciousn­ess of the Ukrainian nation was morally and psychologi­cally wounded.

Since the independen­ce of our state, we have concentrat­ed a significan­t part of our efforts to gaining internatio­nal recognitio­n of Holodomor as an act of genocide. So far, 15 other countries have officially recognized the horrific crime committed against the Ukrainian people. On the national level, in 2006, the Ukrainian Parliament passed the law known as “On Holodomor of 1932-1933 in Ukraine” and, in 2015, the legislativ­e body adopted a special act condemning the totalitari­an communist regime. Without a shadow of doubt, in 1932-1933 the world witnessed a genocide of the Ukrainian people. These were people who could impede the imperialis­tic plans of the Soviet Union leadership machine, which never recognized the value of a human life. The most prominent example of the latter is today’s Russian war in Europe, taking the lives of thousands of civilians and rejecting the mere idea of peace, prosperity and well-being. Despite the fact that the USSR no longer exists, the continuity of its policy is clearly visible in the actions of today’s Russian leadership. And, unfortunat­ely, on a much greater scale.

On Oct. 29, Russia suspended its participat­ion in the Black Sea Grain Initiative for food exports from Ukrainian ports, thus threatenin­g and underminin­g global food security. The Kremlin used a false pretext to justify this move and blame Ukraine. Russia’s attempt to withdraw from the agreement was yet another example of its hunger games with the world. It continues to use food as a weapon in order to achieve its political goals. There can be no justificat­ion for Russia’s actions, which put millions of lives in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia at risk. At the same time, Russia continues its missile attacks on Ukraine, causing severe damage to critical civilian infrastruc­ture. Strikes have led to electricit­y blackouts and heat and water supply disruption­s, worsening the already severe humanitari­an situation. Russia’s deliberate and targeted strikes on critical energy infrastruc­ture are undisputab­le war crimes, for which we will certainly hold it accountabl­e. They are also part of Russia’s genocide of Ukrainians, as they are aimed at creating unbearable conditions for people, making them freeze during the coldest period of the year.

Despite the fact that history tends to repeat itself, right now Ukraine is exerting all possible efforts to totally demolish the Russian threat to ensure that these dreadful and appalling events never happen again. No matter how many decades have already passed and how many are yet to come, one thing will remain unchanged: Every fourth Saturday of November, Ukrainians will commemorat­e the victims of Holodomor, sitting by the window in silence with a lit candle and honoring the souls of all the men, women and children so unfairly deprived of their lives.

It is important to recognize historical truths and come to the painful but totally necessary conclusion­s that should lay even more solid foundation­s for the support of Ukraine today, as we stand defending our country, and to join Ukraine in its postwar economic recovery. This will definitely also reinforce regional stability, while enabling food security for Africa, the Middle East and South Asia for many generation­s to come.

Without a shadow of doubt, in 1932-1933 the world witnessed a genocide of the Ukrainian people.

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