Holodomor is a great tragedy in the history of Ukraine. And we find it really important that not only Ukrainians, but also other nations recognize it as one and talk about it. The Holodomor ("Extermination by hunger" or "Hunger-extermination"; derived from "to kill by starvation) was a famine in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1932 and 1933 that killed about 10 million Ukrainians. During the famine, which is also known as the "Famine-Genocide in Ukraine", millions of citizens of the Ukrainian SSR, the majority of whom were Ukrainians, died of starvation in a peacetime catastrophe unprecedented in the history of Ukraine. Since 2006, the Holodomor has been recognized by the independent Ukraine and many other countries as a genocide of the Ukrainian people by Soviet Union ruled by Stalin.

Ukrainians mark annually the anniversary of the Holodomor with commemorative events honoring the memory of the victims. A variety of lectures, film nights, discussions with survivors and commemorative services raise awareness of this genocide of the Ukrainian people. 

This year Ukrainians in Ukraine and worldwide commemorate the anniversary on November 28, 2015, Holodomor Memorial Day, with: 

- memorial services in churches;

- the display of signs reading “1932-1933 Holodomor – genocide of Ukrainians”,

- Ukrainian flags adorned with black ribbons flying over governmental  establishments and private homes;

- one minute of silence as a symbolic representation of the Holodomor years;

- the lighting of candles in every church, community centre and in the windows of homes.