There were accounts of there being so much grain the granaries could not contain it all and the grain was stored in the open. The open grain was surrounded by barbed wire and armed guards that were instructed to shoot and kill anyone who attempted to steal the grain. Anyone who did not follow this order or aids the Kulaks in obtaining additional grains was executed. Canada, parts of Europe, and the United States heard reports of a famine in the Ukraine and attempted to take action. They sent aid to the Kulaks which included food but they were denied entry into the Ukraine by Soviet Officials. The Soviet Union was now denying allegations of famine in the Ukraine. It was against Soviet policy to admit or report famine because it would raise questions of why there was a famine if there was so much excess grain produced in