Ukraine Commemorates Stalin-era Famine

One of the millions of Ukrainian victims of the 1932-33 famine (file photo) (Ukrinform) November 25, 2006 -- Ukraine today is commemorating the millions of Ukrainians who starved to death in the famine of 1932-33 under Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.

The famine has been blamed on the forced collectivization of land and the seizure of seed and food stocks.

Some historians have argued that authorities orchestrated the famine in order to destroy a Ukrainian independence movement. Ukrainian officials are seeking to have the United Nations recognize the famine as genocide.

(AFP)