Victims of the Holodomor remembered amid ongoing warfare in Ukraine

More than a dozen people gathered in the wind and rain Saturday at the Charlottetown cenotaph to remember the millions of people who died in Ukraine in 1932-33 in what is known as the Holodomor.

In 2009, Canada adopted the Ukrainian Famine and Genocide Memorial Day Act that recognizes the Holodomor as an act of genocide. It is marked every year on the fourth Saturday in November.

Elina Lialiuk, one of the organizers of the Charlottetown event,would like the P.E.I. government torecognize the Holodomor as a genocide, as well.

"That will be like a big gesture for us. We will appreciate it a lot. We will be extremely grateful because it will mean that our province stands with us, stands with Ukraine and contributes to our return."

On Saturday, Lialiuk spoke about how the Stalinist regime sought to destroy the Ukrainian nation by turning food into a weapon,essentially starving the people death by confiscating food and grain.

• I knew about the Holodomor but I struggled to illustrate this dark chapter of Ukraine's history

"Millions of innocent people died, and they died not because they committed a crime," she said.

"They died because they wanted to live in a free land, they wanted to speak their language, they wanted to celebrate their traditions and culture."

The Holodomorcomes nine months after Russia invaded Ukraine, and the war continues.

Tetiana Lysak,who came to Canada two months ago, said she worriesabout her friends and family back in Ukraine.

"It is important to remember about genocide because another genocide is happening right now. This is what Russia is doing."