News

Viktor Moroz

Saturday, November 22, was a Day of profound remembrance. In Cardiff, at the Eglwys Dewi Sant church, a ceremony was held to commemorate the victims of the Holodomors in Ukraine. The event, organized by the Welsh Refugee Council, Senedd 4 Ukraine, and the Ukrainian community of Wales, became a place where candles were lit, prayers were said, and the events of those terrible years were recalled.

But unfortunately, historical events do not just echo—they are repeating themselves. Russia is committing genocide against Ukrainians right now, only using different, modern methods.

It Happened More Than Once: Systemic Starvation as a Weapon

History shows that there were several Holodomors, and this was no accident. It was a systematic policy:

• 1921–23: The first wave, which was barely spoken about.

• 1932–33: The most horrific genocide, when millions of people died.

• 1946–47: Post-war famine.

Each time, the pattern was the same: seize the harvest, export the grain, forbid people from leaving. Artificial famine was the main instrument for destroying the Ukrainian people and their will.

Remembering Gareth Jones

Here in Wales, we have a special connection to this tragedy.

It was a Welshman—the journalist Gareth Jones from Barry—who was the first to tell the world the truth about the 1932–33 Holodomor. In March 1933, he walked illegally through Ukrainian villages and saw everything with his own eyes. He wrote articles for which he was discredited and banned from the USSR. Two years later, he was killed in Mongolia under suspicious circumstances. His archive, stored at the National Library of Wales, is our shared proof of the crime.

The Same Now, Only with Different Technologies

Today, just as then, the aggressor’s goal is to break Ukrainians. But if back then they took away bread, now they are taking away light, heat, and security.

Modern Instruments of Genocide:

• Energy Starvation: Russia is destroying energy infrastructure, condemning millions to cold and darkness this winter. Without electricity, it is impossible to store food, cook, or keep warm.

• Hunting for Life: Kamikaze drones hunt farmers in the fields. Yes, they literally drop grenades on tractors and people trying to harvest the crops.

• Mined Land: 25% of agricultural land is mined. It cannot be sown, and demining will take decades. This is a direct attack on food security and the country’s future.

• Mass Shelling: Every day, missiles and drones kill civilians in their homes, hospitals, and schools.

• Kidnapping Children: Over 20,000 Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia, where their names and documents are changed, and they are forbidden from speaking Ukrainian. This is the direct destruction of a nation.

This is not “war as usual.” This is the same plan: to break Ukrainians through hunger and cold, to destroy them physically and as a nation.

What Can We Do Here in Wales?

We cannot remain silent. We cannot allow today’s Ukrainians to perish because the world remains indifferent, as happened to the victims of the Holodomors.

Here in Wales, we can do very simple things to help resist this:

• Donate £10–£20 for warmth. Send funds for a generator or power bank—through local volunteers or directly to acquaintances in Ukraine. Every penny is an hour of light and heat.

• Help Pack a Box. Join the collection of warm clothes, thermal underwear, and flashlights.

• Just Write. Message your friend/colleague/neighbour from Ukraine: “How are you? How can I help?“ Human support is priceless.

• Share the Information about Russia’s crimes among local residents, using the story of Gareth Jones as a bridge.

Nothing heroic. Just prevent people from freezing and being left in the dark.

You can always help. At least today.