The Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine in Kyiv celebrated the inauguration of a hall named after James Mace — an American historian and political scientist renowned for his research on the Holodomor that occurred in Ukraine in 1932-1933.
“It’s a unique case where a person without Ukrainian roots became one of the most devoted defenders of the memory of Holodomor victims. For him, Ukraine became a second homeland, and through his work, the world learned the truth about the genocide of the Ukrainian people,” — emphasized the Academy's director Igor Ostash.
He also highlighted the increase in international recognition of the Holodomor, particularly following the onset of Russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine.
From 1991 to 2022, 15 countries recognized the Holodomor as genocide, and in just a year and a half since the invasion began, nearly as many countries have made similar declarations, demonstrating the war's impact on global awareness.
The event was attended by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Deputy Minister Maryana Beza, who stated that the Holodomor is not an abstract tragedy but a crime with specific perpetrators and responsible individuals.
“Genocide is happening again today. Russia is committing genocide against Ukrainians, erasing our identity in occupied territories and abducting our children,” — she noted.
A fragment of a documentary film about James Mace was screened at the event, along with publications on the history of the Holodomors in Ukraine.
The memory of James Mace — this is our light in the window and a commitment to millions of innocent victims.