Today, May 18, 2025, at 08:42 PM EEST, Ukraine pauses to commemorate one of the darkest chapters of its history—the forced deportation of the Crimean Tatar people, which began exactly 81 years ago on May 18, 1944. This day, recognized as the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Deportation and the Day of Struggle for the Rights of the Crimean Tatar People, is not only a moment of mourning but also a symbol of resilience, resistance, and hope for justice. On this occasion, we honor those who fell victim to the Stalinist regime while drawing parallels with the present, where history, sadly, repeats itself in new forms of violence and displacement.
May 18, 1944, marked a black day for the Crimean Tatar people. Under the orders of Joseph Stalin, accused of mass repressions, a campaign of forced deportation began, uprooting the Crimean Tatars from their ancestral homeland in Crimea. Approximately 200,000 individuals, predominantly women, children, and the elderly, were herded from their homes and forcibly transported in cattle cars to remote regions of the Soviet Union—primarily Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Siberia.
The conditions of the deportation were nothing short of inhumane. Without food, water, or medicine, crammed into tight wagons, people perished even before reaching their destinations. In many families, children lost parents, and parents lost children. Official records indicate that up to 46% of the deported Crimean Tatars died within the first few years due to starvation, disease, cold, and unbearable living conditions. These figures are staggering in their brutality: nearly half the population was wiped out in just a few years.
The deportation of 1944 was more than an act of exile—it was a genocide aimed at erasing the distinct identity of the Crimean Tatar people. Their homes were looted or handed over to settlers, and cultural landmarks were destroyed. The Soviet regime sought to obliterate any trace of the Crimean Tatars in Crimea, even banning their mention in official documents.
The return of the Crimean Tatars to their native land became possible only in the late 1980s, as the Soviet Union began to crumble and the world learned the truth about Stalin’s crimes. This process was slow and painful: many survivors lacked the strength to return, while those who dared faced new challenges—discrimination, bureaucracy, and hostility from local authorities. Yet, the Crimean Tatars did not lose their identity. They organized a movement for their rights, built communities, fought for recognition of the deportation as genocide, and sought the opportunity to live on their ancestors’ land.
Today, 81 years after the tragedy of 1944, history seems to repeat itself. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, ongoing for over three years, has triggered new waves of violence and displacement. According to Ukrainian and international organizations, at least 2.8 million Ukrainians have been forcibly deported or compelled to flee their homes due to the war unleashed by Russia. Among them are approximately 150,000 children, victims of deportation, abductions, or forced relocation.
These numbers are staggering, but behind each one lies a human story—tears of mothers, fear of children, and shattered families. As 81 years ago, trains once again carry people into the unknown, with shadows of the past overlapping with the present. However, there is a key difference: while the world remained silent in 1944, today Ukraine has a voice heard by millions. The international community, human rights organizations, and spiritual leaders, such as Pope Leo XIV, who recently met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, actively support the struggle to return the deported and seek justice.
The Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Crimean Tatar Deportation is not only a day of mourning but also a day of resistance. Today, across Ukraine, memorial events are taking place: people light candles, observe moments of silence, and organize cultural programs to honor the memory of those who did not survive the exile and to support those who continue fighting for their rights. Despite all trials, the Crimean Tatar people remain unbroken. Their culture, language, and traditions thrive and evolve, with the younger generation carrying forward the legacy of their ancestors—defending their right to their land.
This day also serves as a reminder for all Ukrainians: we remember, we fight, and we will return. Just as the Crimean Tatars returned to Crimea after decades of exile, so too will modern Ukrainians reclaim their homes, their lands, and their children. History teaches us that truth and justice always prevail, even if the path to them is long and fraught with hardship.