Ukraine Asks Russia For Classified Documents On 1930s Famine

Millions starved to death in Ukraine in the early 1930s.

KYIV -- Ukraine's State Security Service (SBU) has officially asked Moscow to provide classified archival documents on the famine of the 1930s in Ukraine that killed millions, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service reports.

The famine of 1929-1933 is officially known as genocide in Ukraine, which launched a new investigation into the tragedy on May 25.

SBU chief Valentyn Nalivaychenko said on June 4 that Russia's cooperation in the investigation is very important and the investigation is not aimed against Russia in any way.

Nalivaychenko added that there are currently special investigations into the famine being conducted in all 17 of Ukraine's regions.

Many consider the famine to be an organized genocide perpetrated against Ukraine by the Soviet leadership of the 1930s. Russian officials disagree and say the famine also killed millions in central Russia, Siberia, and Kazakhstan.