Ammon News - For centuries, Ukrainians have not been the only people to endure suffering at the hands of Russian empire, which has systematically targeted entire nations for extermination while colonizing their territory. One of the most inhumane examples of such policy was the ethnic cleansing of Circassian territories during the Russo-Caucasian War (1763–1864). This resulted in the physical extermination of more than 90% of the Circassians and their forced expulsion from their homeland. The indigenous Circassian population was systematically replaced by the purposeful settlement of other ethnic groups.

This crime was not a random act of violence but a series of pre-planned and brutally implemented actions. The Russian army burned villages together with their inhabitants, killed civilians, and destroyed crops and other essential resources. Thousands of Circassians were forcibly exiled, marched under convoy to the shores of the Black Sea. From there, only a third survived the journey to the Ottoman Empire, with the rest perishing from hunger, disease, and the harsh conditions imposed upon them. These actions were carried out with the intent of annihilating the Circassian people, suppressing their identity, and deliberately creating living conditions aimed at their complete or partial physical extermination. Numerous official documents confirm the atrocities committed by Russian units during the Russo-Caucasian War.

Adding to the horror, Russian General Grigoriy Zass played a key role in these genocidal acts. He not only ordered the destruction of Circassian communities but also infamously collected and displayed severed heads of Circassians, embodying the terror he sought to inflict. His actions exemplify the cruelty and calculated brutality of the Russian Empire’s policies against the Circassians.

These tragic events found their reflection in the poem “Caucasus” (1845) by the great Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko, who expressed profound compassion for the Circassians and condemned Russian imperial policy:
“Mighty mountains, row on row, blanketed with cloud,
planted thick with human woe, laved with human blood.”

Ukraine, which itself has endured immense suffering under the Russian Empire and the former USSR, stands in solidarity with Circassians and all other peoples who have experienced similar fates in the “prison of nations.”
On January 9, 2025, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (the Parliament of Ukraine) adopted an important resolution to restore historical justice. The resolution recognized that the mass extermination of the Circassians (Adyghe) and their forced expulsion to the Ottoman Empire during the Russo-Caucasian War of 1763–1864 constitutes genocide. This acknowledgment is grounded in the deliberate intent and systematic actions that aimed to obliterate the Circassian people.

The resolution honors the memory of all victims of this crime and expresses solidarity with the Circassian (Adyghe) people. It strongly condemns the genocidal actions of the Russian Empire, which led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Circassians, the destruction of their societal foundations, and immense cultural losses for humanity. The resolution calls upon countries and international organizations that have not yet recognized the Circassian genocide to do so. It urges the Russian Federation to officially acknowledge and apologize for these crimes, as well as governments worldwide to include this history in educational and research programs. The resolution also condemns the current Russian regime’s distortion of historical facts to support its ideology of oppression and aggression. Furthermore, it recognizes the Circassian diaspora’s right to repatriate to their historical homeland and to seek national self-determination.

This resolution reflects Ukraine’s firm position in condemning the crimes committed by the Russian authorities against Circassians and other oppressed peoples. It demonstrates Ukraine’s support for the right of all enslaved by Russia nations to preserve their language, traditions, and identity and to freely determine their future.

Kabardians, Circassians, Adygeans, and Shapsugs, who currently reside in the Russian Federation, are the only surviving Circassian (Adyghe) groups — heirs of historical Circassia. Their ancestors endured the genocide and were further divided by artificial administrative borders imposed by the Russian Empire.

The contemporary Russian regime continues to exploit and oppress enslaved peoples, including Circassians, by recruiting them as “cannon fodder” in its military campaigns, such as the war against Ukraine. This ongoing policy reflects the same genocidal intent and colonial ambitions as those of its imperial predecessors.

Ukraine condemns the criminal actions of the Russian Empire and its successors, which have resulted in the extermination of millions, the destruction of cultural and social foundations, and the suppression of ethnic identities. Ukraine expresses solidarity with all the peoples oppressed by the Russian Empire and the USSR, recognizing the importance of restoring historical justice.

Now, as Ukraine suffers under full-scale military aggression by Russian invaders, it is essential to recognize that the genocidal policies of Russia remain unchanged. These policies persist as long as they are left unchallenged. Ukrainians, with their own history of genocide — most notably the Holodomor of 1932–1933, when millions were starved to death by Stalin — understand the shared pain of subjugated peoples. Despite the changing names of Russian state entities, their primary weapon against other nations remains genocide. Ukraine’s response is to stand with all peoples who have suffered from these crimes and to unite in resisting this empire of evil.