Ukrainians fear history repeating itself as millions honoured during Holodomor – Calgary

Ukrainians living in Calgary fear that history may repeat itself as the war in Ukraine rages on.

On Saturday, dozens of worshipers St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Orthodox Sobor in Calgary filled to commemorate the 89.^st Holodomor Memorial Day.

Holodomor remembers the millions of people who lived in Soviet Ukraine who starved to death between 1932 and 1933 due to man-made famine at the hands of then Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.

However, as those present honored the many who died nearly a century ago, prayers were also offered for those currently living in the war-torn country.

“The Ukrainian people are now back in a genocide the same way they were in a famine,” said Christine Moussiemko at the Ukrainian Youth Association.

“But now with the war in Ukraine, and with people who came here and our families, it’s just like we’re living through it.”

Ihor Chernov and his wife Anastasiia Yadushenko were able to flee their home and move to Calgary with their daughter seven months ago, leaving behind a life they once knew.

“When the war started, we first decided to stay with our families in Ukraine. We hid like in the cellars and the bombshells,” said Chernov.

They say it is difficult to honor the millions on Saturday with so much suffering and famine in the country.

“When we go to some stores, I prefer not to buy something more or what I want to buy just for taste and so on, because I know that many people in Ukraine cannot buy it,” said Yadushenko.

“Starving people who have no option to cook anything, who are struggling with their lack of food,” Chernov said.

As food becomes scarce in Ukraine, many people remain without power and heat, making it difficult to survive the cold Ukrainian winter.

Despite another Russian leader 89 years after the genocide of millions, Ukrainian community advocate, Romaniuk believes they face the same outcome and what could very well be a modern-day Holodormor.

“By every measure this is premeditated genocide on an industrial scale. If it is not stopped, what we have today could very well be worse than what we had 90 years ago,” he said.

As the Russian military continues to fire rockets into the country, leveling buildings and critical infrastructure where Romaniuk’s parents once called home, he says Ukraine’s identity and existence are under threat.

“If the Ukrainian people and Ukraine as a country want to survive, (Vladimir) Putin’s armies must be moved out of Ukraine — they must leave Ukraine,” he said. “They must stop bombing Ukraine and until that happens, no one will be safe.”

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