GALLERY: 90 years later, locals remember Ukraine's devastating famine

This past weekend, locals gathered at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church for a memorial service and candle lighting ceremony in recognition of the 90th anniversary of Holodomor.  

Also known as the Great Ukrainian Famine, Holodomor refers to the millions of Ukrainians who were starved and killed by Soviet policies during the winter of 1932-33.

Ceremony organizer Mariia Chuchman explained that this annual day of remembrance is a solemn but necessary reminder of the pain and heartache that was inflicted on their people.

“It’s important for us that the world understands that even 90 years after Holodomor, we have to fight the same enemy,” Chuchman said. “All the historical facts about what Soviets have done to Ukrainian people during 1932-33 were considered secret files and were opened to the society only 50 years ago – 40 years after it actually happened.”

“We light up the candles to remember every lost soul of all the victims of Soviets' act of genocide against Ukrainians – victims of Holodomor,” she added.

Chuchman has many childhood memories of listening to stories told by her great-grandmother about the unimaginable circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

“There were parents in their village who would take their kid walking to Kyiv food market, which is 25-30 kilometres away, to leave them there," she said. "Those mothers were hoping that some people may take pity on their kid and take them in. Mothers abandoned their kids, infants sometimes, just to give them a small chance of survival. They were desperate.”

“We’re deeply grateful for everyone who joined us to remember them,” she added. “We were praying for those who died in such a terrible way.”