Background
HOLODOMOR: the Ukrainian word for "plague of hunger" or “death inflicted by starvation” derived from two words, “holod” – starvation/famine and “moryty” – to inflict death.
The tension between the Ukrainians and the Bolsheviks could be traced back to as early as 15 years before the genocide. In February 1917, the Russian Revolution brought the Provisional Government into power. Ukrainians had finally seen a light of independence and freedom as the newly formed government promptly introduced the freedom of speech and removed all of the restrictions on minorities set by the previous Tsarist autocracy. The Central Rada (Central Council) was formed in March 1917 in Kiev as a Ukrainian representative body which promised the minority for equal involvement and opportunity in government. The stated goal of this highest national authority in Ukraine was to promote territorial autonomy and the transformation of Russia into a democratic, federative republic.
The tension between the Ukrainians and the Bolsheviks could be traced back to as early as 15 years before the genocide. In February 1917, the Russian Revolution brought the Provisional Government into power. Ukrainians had finally seen a light of independence and freedom as the newly formed government promptly introduced the freedom of speech and removed all of the restrictions on minorities set by the previous Tsarist autocracy. The Central Rada (Central Council) was formed in March 1917 in Kiev as a Ukrainian representative body which promised the minority for equal involvement and opportunity in government. The stated goal of this highest national authority in Ukraine was to promote territorial autonomy and the transformation of Russia into a democratic, federative republic.
However, Ukraine's dream of sovereignty was soon crashed by the Bolsheviks. The Red Army, led by Vladimir Lenin, gained power in Petrograd (now St. Petersburg) through a violent coup. Numerous of innocent lives perished during this incident and the public's immediate impression towards the Bolsheviks were extremely negative. On November 7th, 1917, the Central Rada refused to give its power to the new government. On November 20th of the same year, it proclaimed the formation of Ukrainian National Republic. This angered the Red Army. As a result, the Bolsheviks launched an attack in Kiev and forced the Central Rada to surrender. This uprising undeniably stripped the power out of the Central Council and left it as a puppet of the Soviet government. In 1922, Ukraine officially became one of the republics of U.S.S.R..