The Donetsk region is a Ukrainian region characterised by a complex and dynamic history, a distinctive culture, and a tragic fate. The article examines testimonies concerning the state of musical traditions during and after the Holodomor periods. It discusses how the extreme conditions affected traditional rituals and musical leisure practices during the years of hardship and famine, and examines selected folk songs that reflect people’s attitudes towards the Soviet way of life. The study concludes that, despite the prolonged ethnocide and Russification, Ukrainian song and traditions remained dominant in the Donetsk region until relatively recently; however, due to a series of recent tragic events, this intangible cultural heritage has suffered irreversible destruction.