Remembering the Holodomor: Voices of the Past, Echoes of Today.

This Holodomor Remembrance Day, we honour the millions of Ukrainians who perished during the Soviet-orchestrated famine-genocide of 1932-33 – a deliberate act of starvation, suppression, and erasure.

As part of the commemoration initiative this year, we gathered personal stories from our community and shared them via the “Shine a Light or russia’s Genocide against Ukraine” campaign – testimonies that breathe life into the statistics, showing the resilience of those who endured and the unbreakable spirit of Ukraine. These accounts are harrowing yet vital. They remind us of what happens when the world looks away.

We must not forget: the same tactics of genocide and destruction that claimed millions of lives then are being wielded again today by russia in its brutal invasion of Ukraine. Deporting children, targeting civilians, and attempting to erase our culture – this is a continuation of the same imperialist strategy.

By sharing these stories, we shine a light on the truth and reaffirm our commitment to justice, remembrance, and human rights.

Join us in demanding that the world (including New Zealand) calls the #Holodomor what it was – genocide. Together, we honor the past and fight for a future without genocide. #WeRememberTerrorFamine  #StopRussianGenocide #ShineALight

In 1932-1933, the totalitarian communist regime committed genocide against the Ukrainian people. On Stalin’s orders, the Holodomor—death by starvation—killed millions in the Ukrainian SSR and Kuban, where most residents were Ukrainian. In the early 2000s, Ukraine legally recognised the Holodomor as genocide, and over 30 countries have since followed. New Zealand has yet to do so.

The Holodomor was a deliberate attempt to erase Ukraine. Millions perished, but Ukraine’s spirit endured. This was not an isolated atrocity—it is part of centuries of russian imperial oppression. Today, Putin’s regime continues this genocidal campaign, using mass murder, terror, and forced deportations to erase Ukrainian identity. Russia’s war on Ukraine did not start in 2022 or 2014—it is an unbroken pattern of aggression. Like Stalin, Putin resorts to genocide when other methods of subjugation fail. Stalin used food confiscation, blockades, and terror; Putin employs military invasion, bombings, and deportations, including the abduction of Ukrainian children. Then and now, russia counts on global indifference and fear.

As part of a global movement, we Shine a Light on russia’s genocide—past and present. In New Zealand, we honoured Holodomor victims with survivor stories, candlelight, and silence. We are deeply grateful to those standing with us, supporting Ukraine, and helping expose russia’s crimes—then and now.

Photos & Reflections from the day here.