92nd anniversary of the Holodomor: UK statement to the OSCE
On the 92nd anniversary of the Holodomor, Deputy Ambassador James Ford remembers those who lost their lives and pays tribute to those who continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the truth is recognised. Russia’s ongoing weaponisation of winter is an echo of the cruelty of the past. We remember such tragedies to prevent their repetition.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
The Holodomor was one of the darkest chapters in European history. A terrible man-made disaster that killed millions of innocent people.
At this 92nd anniversary, the United Kingdom remembers those who lost their lives. We pay tribute to our Ukrainian friends, who continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the truth of the Holodomor is recognised after decades of suppression by the Soviet Union. We also commend the bravery of individuals and organisations who have sought to expose those Soviet-era atrocities, often at great personal risk.
We must never stop learning from the horrors inflicted on the Ukrainian people during the Holodomor, nor allow the millions who perished to be forgotten.
As we mark this solemn anniversary, we cannot ignore the tragic parallels with the suffering Ukrainians endure now. Deliberate attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure seek to plunge homes into darkness and cold, weaponising winter against civilians. These acts echo the cruelty of the past, reminding us that the denial of basic human needs remains a tool of aggression. The resilience of the Ukrainian people in the face of such hardship is a testament to their enduring spirit and determination to live free from tyranny.
Madam Chair, we remember the horrors of the past to prevent their repetition. Let this anniversary strengthen our resolve to act together so that the tragedies of history do not become the realities of tomorrow.
Thank you, Madam Chair.