Italian senators on Wednesday voted to recognise as “genocide” the 1930s starvation of millions in Ukraine under Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, a move welcomed by Kyiv.

The resolution, passed by 130 votes in favour, none against and four abstentions, follows a similar text agreed by the lower parliamentary chamber’s foreign affairs commission in February.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba offered his thanks, posting “Grazie mille” (thank you very much) on Twitter, the social media platform undergoing a rebranding to X.

“This important step restores historical justice, honours millions of victims, and warns future generations against the crime of genocide,” he wrote.

The 1932-33 “Holodomor” -- Ukrainian for “death by starvation” -- is regarded by Kyiv as a deliberate act of genocide by Stalin’s regime with the intention of wiping out the peasantry.

Advertisement

Stalin’s campaign of forced “collectivisation” seized grain and other foodstuffs and left millions to starve.

To suggest a correction or clarification, write to us here
You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter