The Ukranian SSR borders were sealed by orders from Stalin to starve Ukranians to death

in 1933, following orders made by Stalin the borders of the Ukrainian SSR were sealed. Not only were Ukrainian peasants banned from leaving the Ukrainian SSR but also all food produce was blocked from coming into the Ukrainian SSR. Thus completing the Ukrainian "fortress" that Stalin instructed Kaganovich to create in August 1932.

The closing of the borders had been presented as a response to Ukrainians going into Russian countryside to find food. Stalin described the Ukrainian refugee situation as living propaganda "organised by [counter-revolutionary] enemies of Soviet government" including "agents of Poland" against the Soviet government. 

During the blockade at least 190,000 (possibly 250,000) Ukrainians were caught crossing the border, all of which were deported back to their communities in order to face starvation
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