The Holodomor, one of the most tragic events in Ukrainian history, refers to the man-made famine that devastated Ukraine from 1932 to 1933. The name "Holodomor" itself is derived from two Ukrainian words: "holod," meaning hunger, and "moryty," meaning extermination. This term emphasizes the belief that the famine was deliberately engineered by Joseph Stalin's Soviet government as part of a broader effort to suppress Ukrainian nationalism and enforce Soviet control.

The historical context of the Holodomor is deeply intertwined with the policies of Soviet Russia during the early 20th century. Under Stalin's rule, the Soviet Union sought rapid industrialization and forced collectivization of agriculture, a process that involved the consolidation of individual farms into large collective ones. These policies were highly disruptive and led to widespread resistance, especially in Ukraine, where peasants valued their land and traditional agricultural practices.

In response to this resistance, Stalin imposed harsh measures on Ukraine, including the confiscation of grain, livestock, and other foodstuffs, which were sent to feed other parts of the Soviet Union. This created a devastating shortage of food in Ukraine, which was compounded by the harsh climate and poor harvests. Despite the widespread suffering and starvation, the Soviet government did little to alleviate the crisis and instead imposed strict controls on food distribution. In some cases, officials even enforced internal borders, preventing starving people from fleeing to neighboring regions in search of food.