Ukraine marked the 75th anniversary of the 1932-33 famine at a ceremony yesterday that was boycotted by Russia, which rejects Ukraine's description of the famine as a "genocide" and argues many ethnic groups in the Soviet Union were affected.

Serious estimates of the death toll vary considerably -- between 3 million and 10 million -- but virtually all sides agree that millions died as a result of Stalin's effort to break the spirit of Ukraine's independent farmers.

Serious estimates of the death toll vary considerably -- between 3 million and 10 million -- but virtually all sides agree that millions died as a result of Stalin's effort to break the spirit of Ukraine's independent farmers.

U.S. President-elect Barack Obama, one of many leaders to send messages, said future generations should be kept aware of the famine. A candlelight service was scheduled for later in the day.

The famine was one of three to strike Ukraine last century. At its height, 25,000 people perished every day. Soldiers dumped bodies into pits and cannibalism became rife.

Soviet authorities denied for decades that it had occurred.