CALLS for historic Russian actions in Ukraine to be recognised as genocide have been reiterated in the wake of the recent invasion.

In 1932-33 Joseph Stalin, closed off Ukraine’s borders and confiscated all food to punish the Ukrainian’s resistance to his collective farms policy – replacing independently owned and operated farms with state-run alternatives.

The measures Stalin imposed resulted in a nationwide famine in Ukraine, which ultimately took the lives of an estimated 3.9 million people.

The Holodomor, which translates from Ukrainian to ‘death by starvation’, has never been officially recognised by the UK government as an act of genocide.

But a motion was passed by Bolton Council in 2009 to show their support of a campaign for the government to do so.

A statement then said: “That the council supports the campaign to raise awareness of the Holodomor and for the Ukrainian Famine of 1932 – 33 to be recognised as Genocide, in order that these victims can be properly remembered and that this is never allowed to happen again.”

That motion was supported by Cllrs Nick Peel, John Walsh and Roger Hayes, representing Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrats respectively.

Now Cllr Hayes is again calling for the council to put pressure on the government on an all-party basis to reconsider as an attempt to ramp up non-military pressure on the Russian President, Vladimir Putin.

And he believes any past reluctance, for fear of upsetting Russian interests, has been rendered obsolete.

Cllr Hayes, Bolton Lib Dems leader, said: “Of course we want the strongest possible sanctions on Putin and his cronies.

"But we should also take this opportunity to take action that would recognise another wrong against the Ukrainian people committed by a ruthless dictator, in that case Stalin.

“In 2009 Bolton Council passed an all-party motion calling for the Holodomor to be recognised as a genocide.

"There is an overwhelming case for that to be done, and now there can be little case for avoiding upsetting the Russian Government."