November 23 Ukraine commemorates the memory of the victims of the Holodomors.

Ukraine annually honors the memory of the victims of the Holodomors of 1932-1933, as well as the mass artificial famines of 1921-1923 and 1946-1947. In 2024, this holiday falls on November 23.

In 1921-1923, famine arose due to the confiscation of food, drought, and the aftermath of war. The exact number of fatalities is unknown, but researchers estimate it to be from 500 thousand people.

The Holodomor of 1932-1933 was a planned act of genocide aimed at the extermination of Ukrainians. All food was confiscated from people, leading to the deaths of millions. The famine of 1946-1947 resulted from the repressive policies of the Soviet government, inflated grain collection plans, drought, and the USSR's decision to export grain abroad. These tragedies left a deep mark in the history of Ukraine.

Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Holodomors

The Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Holodomors was established in 1998 by the decree of then-President Leonid Kuchma. The name of this day has changed several times, but in 2007 it was established as 'Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Holodomors'.

According to various estimates, between 3.5 and 10 million people died as a result of the Holodomors. The Holodomor was officially recognized as the genocide of the Ukrainian people by 28 countries around the world.

National action 'Light a Candle'

This year, traditional memorial events will begin on November 23 at 16:00 with a moment of silence, during which Ukrainians will bow their heads in front of the deceased. A nationwide action 'Light a Candle' will also take place, where everyone willing will place a lit candle on their windowsill. Memorial services will be held in churches, and memorial events will occur near the monuments to the Holodomor victims.

According to the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory, this year’s commemoration takes place under the slogan: 'Light a candle in memory of the Holodomor victims. Fight for Ukraine and support the warriors.'

It is worth reminding that every year on the fourth Saturday of November, Ukraine honors the memory of the victims of the Holodomor of 1932-1933 and the mass artificial famines of 1921-1923 and 1946-1947. On this day, Kyivans and guests of the city will be able to visit the National Museum of Holodomor-Genocide and honor the memory of the Holodomor victims from 14:00 to 19:00.

Also, at 15:30, a prayer service will be held near the 'Memorial to Holodomor Victims' (Lavrska St., 3) with the participation of hierarchs of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

With the arrival of the third president of Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko, a trip to honor the Holodomor victims was included in the programs for foreign delegations.