Millions of Ukrainians lost their lives because of man-made famine, Holodomor. Today, as a result of the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine, people in other parts of the world are experiencing food shortages & rising food prices. Hundreds of millions of people in Africa and Asia feel the consequences of the destruction of Ukraine’s agricultural infrastructure and the blockade of Ukrainian grain exports by Russia. Before the 2022 invasion, Ukraine held 47% of sunflower, 17% of barley, 14% of corn, and 10% of wheat world market shares. In countries like Lebanon, India, Iraq, and China, specific agricultural goods from Ukraine accounted for over 50% of their imports.

Similarly, as it did 90 years ago during the Holodomor, Russia is again stealing grain and other products from the territories it occupies in Ukraine. Russia sells this grain on the world market, earning money to finance its war of aggression against Ukraine further.

The international community should not repeat the mistakes of the past. The world did not stop Holodomor 90 years ago, but it can prevent Russia from starving people in the most vulnerable regions.