In late December 1943, the Soviet government launched Operation Ulussy, a systematic deportation of the Kalmyk nation, an ethnic group primarily inhabiting the Republic of Kalmykia in Southern Russia. Stalin's regime viewed the Kalmyks with suspicion due to their past collaboration with Nazi Germany during the early years of World War II. As a result, the authorities justified their actions by claiming it was essential to ensure state security. Soviet troops began rounding up the Kalmyk people, compelling them to leave their homes and roots behind.

The operation was marked by extreme hardship, as thousands of Kalmyks were transported under dire conditions to remote regions in Siberia and Central Asia. The journey involved overcrowded trucks and trains, with little food or water provided. Many families were separated during the deportation, and countless lives were lost due to the harsh weather, inadequate supplies, and diseases that spread rapidly among the displaced populations. Once relocated, the Kalmyks were often forced to adapt to completely unfamiliar environments and faced significant challenges in preserving their cultural identity.

Historically, this operation represents one of the many instances of ethnic cleansing perpetrated by the Soviet regime during and after the war. The repression of the Kalmyk people and other minority groups continued for decades, profoundly affecting their community and leading to a near-collapse of Kalmyk culture and language. It would not be until 1957 that the Kalmyks were allowed to return to their homeland, yet many faced lingering societal stigma and economic challenges as a result of their deportation.