Hehe~! F-Fine, it's not like I wanted to explain something super dark and tragic or anything… b-but if you're too dumb to do your own research, I guess I’ll help. Baka.

A-anyway, sit down and listen, because this isn't a happy tale. N-not that I care if you cry or anything. I just don’t want you to miss anything important, okay? Geez…

So, t-the Holodomor… it's this horrifying, painful, soul-crushing event that happened in Ukraine during 1932 and 1933. And no, I’m not just being dramatic! It’s serious, you idiot! Hmph…

It was basically a man-made famine—yes, MAN-MADE, like, it didn’t just happen because of bad weather or something. People in Ukraine, like, millions of them, starved to death, and it wasn’t an accident. It was totally deliberate. Not that I care or anything, but that’s really messed up…

You see, this was during the time when the Soviet Union was under the rule of that… that awful, cold-hearted dictator, Joseph Stalin. What a jerk! I wouldn't even make him lunch if he begged for it on his knees… n-not that I make lunch for anyone, baka…

Anyway! The Soviet Union had this whole idea about collectivizing agriculture. Basically, they wanted all the farmers to give up their land and animals and work on these big, state-controlled farms. Like, no more owning your own land. You belong to the state now, nya~! Wait—n-no, I didn't mean that in a cute way! It’s terrible!

Ukrainian farmers, especially the more successful ones—called "kulaks"—they didn’t like that. They were like, “No, we’ve worked hard for this! Why should we give it up to some Soviet official who doesn’t even know how to plant potatoes?!” Honestly, I would’ve said the same… if I was some farmer girl in a cute dress working under the sun. But I’m not! I’m way too cool for that! B-but still! They were totally right!

So, Stalin didn’t like that they were resisting. He was like, “Oh, you don’t want to obey me? How about I just label you enemies of the state and crush you completely?” What a total psycho! Like, seriously, he makes all anime villains look like cinnamon rolls. Even that one guy from that one edgy series wouldn’t be this heartless.

So he began this brutal campaign. First, the government took away all the food from the villages. I mean everything. Like, soldiers would come in and confiscate grain, vegetables, even soup that was already cooking on the stove! W-who does that?! Only a complete monster…

And if the villagers tried to hide food? Ha! They were severely punished. Like, sent to prison, executed, or even deported to Siberia—where it’s all cold and snowy and not at all like those cozy winter anime scenes. No hot chocolate, no kotatsu, just suffering. Ugh…

But wait—there’s more. The Soviets actually sealed off the borders of Ukraine. Like, the people couldn’t leave. Not even if they were starving and desperate. It’s like being stuck in a giant death trap dungeon with no exits, and the final boss is your own government. How messed up is that?!

At this point, entire families were starving to death. Children, elders, everyone. And I mean really starving. Not “Oh no I skipped lunch” starving, but the kind where your body literally eats itself from the inside. N-not like I know how that feels or anything… I always eat properly! Baka…

People were reduced to doing… awful, heartbreaking things just to try to survive. I—I don’t even want to say it, it’s too sad! But like, some reports say people even turned to cannibalism… like, that’s how desperate they were! How could the world just let this happen?!

A-and the Soviet government just kept lying. They denied everything. Like, “What famine? Ukraine’s doing great, thanks!” Ugh, such gaslighting! It’s like that one manipulative anime antagonist who acts all smug while the world burns around them. Grrr! I want to slap him with my slipper! Or maybe with a frying pan! Whack!

Even foreign journalists were manipulated. There was this one guy—Walter Duranty—who reported from Moscow and was like, “Everything’s fine! No famine here!” Like, hello?! Were you even looking?! Or were you just too busy sipping vodka and schmoozing with the Kremlin? Idiot…

But… but the Ukrainian people? They were so strong. So brave. Even while they were being crushed, they tried to hold onto their culture, their language, their songs. It’s so beautiful… and tragic… I-I’m not crying, okay?! I just got something in my eye, jeez…!

Historians say between 3 and 7 million people died. MILLIONS. And even though this happened nearly a century ago, it still hurts so much. And you know what’s the worst part? For the longest time, people didn’t even talk about it. It was hidden, buried under lies and fear. Like a forbidden episode of history.

Now, many countries recognize the Holodomor as a genocide. Which makes sense, because Stalin targeted the Ukrainian people specifically. He wanted to crush their identity, their resistance, their very existence. It was political, cruel, and completely unforgivable. Baka Stalin…

Even today, Ukrainians remember the Holodomor. They light candles, they mourn, they tell the stories. Because it’s important. It matters. If we forget it, if we pretend it didn’t happen, then the pain repeats. A-and I don’t want that! No one deserves to suffer like that!

I swear, if I could time travel like some magical girl, I’d go back there and punch every cruel Soviet officer in the face! And then I’d smuggle in a whole bunch of onigiri and bento boxes and feed all the villagers! With extra tamagoyaki and pickled plum! A-and maybe even some cute little desserts…

But I can’t… because it already happened. So all we can do now is remember. Respect. And speak the truth.

Even if it’s hard. Even if it’s sad. You have to be brave. Like those people were. So… d-don’t you dare forget what I just told you, okay?! I’ll be really mad if you do! And I might even… cry. Not that I would! Baka…

So, t-to wrap it up—Holodomor was one of the worst things ever, and it wasn’t nature’s fault, it was man’s cruelty. Millions died because of twisted politics, brutal policies, and a regime that valued power over people. And if you ever hear someone try to deny it or downplay it? You stand up. You shout the truth. I-I’ll back you up, okay?!

B-but don’t get the wrong idea! I’m only doing this because it’s the right thing, not because I care about you or anything! Geez…

…But maybe I do. Just a little.

J-just shut up already, baka.

https://x.com/ASharaburyak/status/1907866017377997155