Beyond the False Claim of Genocide: Preliminary Reflections on Ukraine's Prospects in Its Pursuit of Justice at the ICJ

Click to increase image sizeClick to decrease image size

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 International Court of Justice, Allegations of Genocide Under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Ukraine v. Russian Federation), Application Instituting Proceedings, 26 February 2022 (hereinafter – ICJ Ukraine Application), para. 2.

2 Ibid., para. 3.

3 Iryna Marchuk, “Russia, International Law and the International Court of Justice,” in Research Handbook on the International Court of Justice, ed. Achilles Skordas (Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, forthcoming 2022).

4 Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, “Interview of the Chairperson of the Investigative Committee of the Prosecution Office of the Russian Federation A.I. Bastrykin for Journal ‘Orientir’,” Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, 31 August 2009, https://sledcom.ru/press/interview/item/507343/ (accessed 1 September 2022) (in Russian).

5 Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, “Russian Investigative Committee: All Persons Who Committed Crimes on the Territory of Donbas Will Be Identified and Held Accountable,” Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, 19 March 2022, https://sledcom.ru/news/item/1665761/ (accessed 1 September 2022) (in Russian).

6 UK Government: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, “Ukraine's Application Against Russia Before the International Court of Justice: Joint Statement,” 20 May 2022, https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ukraine-joint-statement-on-ukraines-application-against-russia-before-the-international-court-of-justice (accessed 1 September 2022).

7 International Court of Justice, Intervention, https://www.icj-cij.org/en/case/182/intervention (accessed 24 October 2022).

8 International Court of Justice, Information furnished by the European Union, 18 August 2022.

9 Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Twitter, 20 May 2022, https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1527625956038524933 (accessed 1 September 2022).

10 Brian McGarry, “Mass Intervention?: The Joint Statement of 41 States on Ukraine v. Russia,” EJIL:Talk!, 30 May 2022, https://www.ejiltalk.org/mass-intervention-the-joint-statement-of-41-states-on-ukraine-v-russia/ (accessed 1 September 2022).

11 Mike Becker, Twitter, 3 September 2020, https://mobile.twitter.com/mabecker17/status/1301240928141705221 (accessed 1 September 2022).

12 2005 World Summit Outcome, A/Res/60/1, 24 October 2005, paras 138–140.

13 Ibid., para. 139.

14 UNSC Resolution 1973 (2011), S/RES/1973 (2011), 17 March 2011.

15 United Nations, “‘Clear and Convincing’ Evidence of Chemical Weapons Use in Syria, UN Team Reports,” UN News, 16 September 2013, https://news.un.org/en/story/2013/09/449052-clear-and-convincing-evidence-chemical-weapons-use-syria-un-team-reports (accessed 1 September 2022); Human Rights Watch, “Death by Chemicals: The Syrian Government's Widespread and Systematic Use of Chemical Weapons,” 1 May 2017, Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/report/2017/05/01/death-chemicals/syrian-governments-widespread-and-systematic-use-chemical-weapons (accessed 1 September 2022).

16 Richard Croker, “Russia's Justification for Using Its Veto on Syria is Pure Fiction,” UK Government, 21 July 2022, https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/russias-justification-for-using-its-veto-on-syria-is-pure-fiction (accessed 1 September 2022).

17 Marchuk, “Russia, International Law and the International Court of Justice.”

18 “Vladimir Putin's Speech Announcing ‘Special Military Operation’ in Ukraine,” The Kremlin, 24 February 2022, http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/67843 (accessed 1 September 2022) (in Russian).

19 International Court of Justice, Allegations of Genocide Under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Ukraine v. Russian Federation), Order, 16 March 2022, General List No. 182, paras 37–47 (hereinafter – Ukraine v. Russia Provisional Measures Order).

20 International Court of Justice, Document (with annexes) from the Russian Federation Setting Out Its Position Regarding the Alleged “Lack of Jurisdiction” of the Court in the Case, 7 March 2022 (hereinafter – ICJ Russia Submission).

21 Ibid., para. 15; For a critique of Russia's argument of self-defense, see Kevin Jon Heller, “Options for Prosecuting Russian Aggression Against Ukraine: A Critical Analysis,” Journal of Genocide Research (6 July 2022): DOI 10.1080/14623528.2022.2095094, pp. 2–3.

22 Ukraine v. Russia Provisional Measures Order, para. 46.

23 Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Press release on the filing of Russia's written objections to the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice in the case initiated by Kiev in February 2022 under the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, 5 October 2022, https://www.mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/news/1832628/?lang=en.

24 International Court of Justice, Fixing of time-limit: Written statement of observations and submissions on preliminary objections, Order, 3 October 2022. See: Ori Pomson, “Ukraine Symposium – Russian Preliminary Objections at the ICJ: The Case Must Go On?”, Article of War Lieber Institute, 13 October 2022, https://lieber.westpoint.edu/russian-preliminary-objections-icj-case-must-go-on/ (accessed 13 October 2022).

25 Ukraine v. Russia Provisional Measures Order, para. 19.

26 Ibid., para. 59.

27 Alexander Etkind, “Ukraine, Russia, and Genocide of Minor Differences,” Journal of Genocide Research (7 June 2022): DOI 10.1080/14623528.2022.2082911, p. 18 (calling Russia's claims of “genocide of millions of Russians” in Donbas “outlandish”).

28 “Vladimir Putin's Speech Announcingsp ‘Special Military Operation’ in Ukraine,” The Kremlin, 24 February 2022, http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/67843 (accessed 1 September 2022) (in Russian); Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, “Russian Investigative Committee: All Persons Who Committed Crimes on the Territory of Donbas Will Be Identified and Held Accountable,” Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, 19 March 2022, https://sledcom.ru/news/item/1665761/ (accessed 1 September 2022) (in Russian).

29 William Schabas, “Preventing Genocide and the Ukraine/Russia Case,” EJIL:Talk!, 10 March 2022, https://www.ejiltalk.org/mass-intervention-the-joint-statement-of-41-states-on-ukraine-v-russia/ (accessed 1 September 2022).

30 International Court of Justice, Declaration of Intervention of Latvia, 19 July 2022 (hereinafter – ICJ Latvia Declaration).

31 International Court of Justice, Declaration of Intervention of Lithuania, 19 July 2022 (hereinafter – ICJ Lithuania Declaration).

32 International Court of Justice, Declaration of Intervention of New Zealand, 25 July 2022 (hereinafter – ICJ New Zealand Declaration).

33 International Court of Justice, Declaration of Intervention of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1 August 2022 (hereinafter – ICJ UK Declaration).

34 International Court of Justice, Declaration of Intervention of Germany, 1 September 2022 (hereinafter – ICJ German Declaration).

35 International Court of Justice, Declaration of Intervention of the United States of America, 7 September 2022 (hereinafter – ICJ USA Declaration).

36 International Court of Justice, Declaration of Intervention of Sweden, 9 September 2022 (hereinafter – ICJ Sweden Declaration).

37 International Court of Justice, Declaration of Intervention of France, 12 September 2022 (hereinafter – ICJ France Declaration).

38 International Court of Justice, Declaration of Intervention of Romania, 13 September 2022 (hereinafter – ICJ Romania Declaration).

39 International Court of Justice, Declaration of Intervention of Italy, 12 September 2022 (hereinafter – ICJ Italy Declaration).

40 International Court of Justice, Declaration of Intervention of Poland, 15 September 2022 (hereinafter – ICJ Poland Declaration).

41 International Court of Justice, Declaration of Intervention of Denmark, 16 September 2022 (hereinafter – ICJ Denmark Declaration).

42 International Court of Justice, Declaration of Intervention of Ireland, 19 September 2022 (hereinafter – ICJ Ireland Declaration).

43 International Court of Justice, Declaration of Intervention of Finland, 21 September 2022 (hereinafter – ICJ Finland Declaration).

44 International Court of Justice, Declaration of Intervention of Estonia, 22 September 2022 (hereinafter – ICJ Estonia Declaration).

45 International Court of Justice, Declaration of Intervention of Spain, 29 September 2022 (hereinafter – ICJ Spain Declaration).

46 International Court of Justice, Declaration of Intervention of Australia, 30 September 2022 (hereinafter – ICJ Australia Declaration).

47 International Court of Justice, Declaration of Intervention of Portugal, 7 October 2022 (hereinafter – ICJ Portugal Declaration).

48 International Court of Justice, Declaration of Intervention of Austria, 12 October 2022 (hereinafter – ICJ Austria Declaration).

49 International Court of Justice, Declaration of Intervention of Luxembourg, 13 October 2022 (hereinafter – ICJ Luxembourg Declaration).

50 International Court of Justice, Declaration of Intervention of Greece, 13 October 2022 (hereinafter – ICJ Greece Declaration).

51 International Court of Justice, Declaration of Intervention of Croatia, 19 October 2022 (hereinafter – ICJ Croatia Declaration).

52 Jonathan Guyer, “Why some countries don't want to pick a side in Russia's war in Ukraine”, Vox, 9 June 2022, https://www.vox.com/23156512/russia-ukraine-war-global-south-nonaligned-movement (accessed 30 October 2022).

53 European Commission, “Speech by President von der Leyen at the European Parliament Plenery on the Russian aggression against Ukraine”, European Commission, 1 March 2022, https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/SPEECH_22_1483 (accessed 30 October 2022).

54 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Twitter, 29 September 2022, https://twitter.com/mfa_russia/status/1575573460839198725 (accessed 30 October 2022).

55 European Parliament, “Russia's war on Ukraine: Speeches by Ukraine's President to the European Parliament and national parliaments”, European Parliament, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2022/729354/EPRS_BRI(2022)729354_EN.pdf (accessed 30 October 2022).

56 E.g. United Nations, “Security Council Fails to Adopt Draft Resolution on Ending Ukraine Crisis, as Russian Federation Weilds Veto,” United Nations, 25 February 2022, https://press.un.org/en/2022/sc14808.doc.htm (accessed 30 October 2022);“General Assembly resolution demands end to Russian offensive in Ukraine”, 2 March 2022, https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/03/1113152 (accessed 1 September 2022); C. Raja Mohan, “Imran Khan Goes to Moscow as Pakistan Romances Russia: A warming relationship adds a new twist to South Asian geopolitics”, Foreign Policy, 23 February 2022, https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/02/23/imran-khan-pakistan-russia-putin-india-geopolitics/ (accessed 30 October 2022); Rejendra Jadhav, Nupur Anand and Aftab Ahmed, “India explores setting up ruppee trade accounts with Russia to soften sanctions blow – sources,” Reuters, 25 February 2022, https://www.reuters.com/world/india/india-explores-setting-up-rupee-trade-accounts-with-russia-soften-sanctions-blow-2022-02-25/ (accessed 30 October 2022); Aanu Adeoye, “UN vote on Russia invasion shows a changing Africa”, Chatham House, 7 March 2022, https://www.chathamhouse.org/2022/03/un-vote-russia-invasion-shows-changing-africa (accessed 30 October 2022).

57 Juliette McIntyre and Adam Simpson, “Myanmar's Genocide Overshadowed by Ukraine,” East Asia Forum, 5 October 2022, https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2022/10/05/myanmars-genocide-overshadowed-by-ukraine/ (accessed 30 October 2022).

58 E.g. ICJ Latvia Declaration, para. 12; ICJ New Zealand Declaration, para. 13; ICJ Denmark Declaration, paras 10–11; ICJ Estonia Declaration, para. 18; ICJ Italy Declaration, paras 16–17; ICJ Ireland Declaration, para. 11; ICJ German Declaration, para. 17; ICJ Finland Declaration, paras 11–13; ICJ USA Declaration, para. 11; ICJ Sweden Declaration, para. 18; ICJ Spain Declaration, paras 11, 14; ICJ Romania Declaration, paras 12–13; ICJ Poland Declaration, paras 10–11; ICJ Portugal Declaration, para. 15; ICJ Austria Declaration, para. 7; ICJ Greece Declaration, para. 18; ICJ Australia Declaration, para. 8; ICJ Croatia Declaration, paras 11, 14.

59 ICJ Latvia Declaration, paras 15–20; ICJ Lithuania Declaration, para. 18; ICJ New Zealand Declaration, para. 17; ICJ Denmark Declaration, para. 13; ICJ Estonia declaration, para. 15; ICJ Spain Declaration, para. 12; ICJ Poland Declaration, para. 11; ICJ German Declaration, para. 25; ICJ Finland Declaration, para. 14; ICJ Portugal Declaration, paras 17–19; ICJ Greece Declaration, para. 25; ICJ Croatia Declaration, para. 12.

60 ICJ Latvia Declaration, paras 40–44; ICJ UK Declaration, paras 32–33; ICJ Denmark Declaration, para. 23; ICJ Estonia, paras 31–32; ICJ Ireland Declaration, paras 23–25; ICJ Finland Declaration, paras 29–33; ICJ Romania Declaration, paras 27–30; ICJ Portugal Declaration, para. 27; ICJ Austria Declaration, paras 21–23; ICJ Greece Declaration, para. 37; ICJ Australia Declaration, paras 34–38; ICJ Croatia Declaration, paras 26–31.

61 ICJ Denmark Declaration, para. 25; ICJ Estonia Declaration, paras 34–35; ICJ Portugal, para. 25; ICJ Greece Declaration, paras 31–32.

62 ICJ Latvia Declaration, para. 41; ICJ Lithuania, para. 23; ICJ UK Declaration, para. 33; ICJ Portugal, para. 26; ICJ Austria Declaration, para. 33; ICJ Greece Declaration, para. 35.

63 ICJ Lithuania, para. 24; ICJ Denmark Declaration, para. 24; ICJ Estonia Declaration, para. 27; ICJ Austria Declaration, paras 37–38.

64 ICJ Lithuania, para. 24; ICJ UK Declaration, para. 43; ICJ Denmark Declaration, paras 24–25; ICJ Estonia Declaration, para. 33; ICJ German Declaration, paras 35–45; ICJ Poland Declaration, paras 31–32; ICJ Spain Declaration, paras 26–30; ICJ Sweden Declaration, paras 34–38; ICJ Romania Declaration, para. 31; ICJ Greece Declaration, paras 31–32.

65 ICJ Denmark Declaration, para. 30; ICJ Estonia Declaration, para. 33; ICJ Portugal Declaration, para. 28; ICJ Austria Declaration, para. 42; ICJ Greece Declaration, para. 41.

66 ICJ Latvia Declaration, paras 45–46; ICJ Lithuania Declaration, para. 20; ICJ New Zealand Declaration, paras 18–19; ICJ UK Declaration, para. 54; ICJ Denmark Declaration, para. 31; ICJ Estonia Declaration, para. 41; ICJ Finland Declaration, para. 20; ICJ Sweden Declaration, para. 44; ICJ Romania Declaration, paras 19–20; ICJ Ireland Declaration, paras 18–19; ICJ Portugal Declaration, para. 35; ICJ Austria Declaration, paras 40–42; ICJ Greece Declaration, para. 29; ICJ Australia Declaration, paras 24–26.

67 ICJ New Zealand Declaration, para. 25.

68 ICJ UK Declaration, para. 54.

69 ICJ Lithuania Declaration, para. 20; ICJ UK Declaration, para. 53; ICJ Denmark Declaration, para. 37; ICJ Estonia Declaration, para. 44; ICJ USA Declaration, para. 22; ICJ Finland Declaration, para. 22; ICJ Australia Declaration, paras 49–51.

70 ICJ Latvia Declaration, para. 47; ICJ Romania Declaration, paras 38–41; ICJ Sweden Declaration, para. 45; ICJ Estonia Declaration, para. 42; ICJ USA Declaration, para 26.

71 ICJ Lithuania Declaration, para. 20.

72 ICJ Poland Declaration, para. 38.

73 ICJ New Zealand Declaration, paras 32–33; ICJ Portugal Declaration, para. 37.

74 ICJ UK Declaration, para. 58; ICJ Denmark Declaration, para. 36.

75 ICJ Lithuania Declaration, para. 21; ICJ UK Declaration, paras 63–65; ICJ Denmark Declaration, para. 39; ICJ Estonia Declaration, para. 47; ICJ Finland Declaration, para. 23; ICJ Poland Declaration, paras 40–41; ICJ Australia Declaration, para. 54.

76 ICJ Latvia Declaration, para. 48; ICJ USA Declaration, para. 27; ICJ Sweden Declaration, para. 53; ICJ Romania Declaration, para. 44; ICJ Finland Declaration, para. 26.

77 ICJ New Zealand Declaration, para. 31; ICJ Portugal Declaration, para. 40.

78 ICJ UK Declaration, para. 57.

79 Ibid.

80 ICJ Estonia Declaration, para. 50.

81 ICJ Latvia Declaration, para. 48; ICJ Romania Declaration, para. 45; ICJ Sweden Declaration, para. 49.

82 ICJ Denmark Declaration, para. 34; ICJ Estonia Declaration, para. 45.

83 ICJ Sweden Declaration, para. 54; ICJ Romania Declaration, para. 44; ICJ Portugal Declaration, para. 41.

84 ICJ Estonia Declaration, para. 43; ICJ Sweden Declaration, para. 46; ICJ Finland Declaration, para. 22; ICJ Australia Declaration, paras 52–53.

85 ICJ Latvia Declaration, paras 50–54; ICJ Estonia Declaration, para. 46; ICJ New Zealand Declaration, para. 31; ICJ Finland Declaration, paras 24, 35; ICJ Sweden Declaration, para. 48; ICJ Portugal Declaration, para. 40; ICJ Australia Declaration, para. 55.

86 ICJ Lithuania Declaration, para. 22; ICJ Estonia Declaration, para. 51.

87 ICJ Denmark Declaration, para. 42.

88 Ibid., para. 38.

89 ICJ Portugal Declaration, para. 40.

90 ICJ New Zealand Declaration, para. 31.

91 ICJ UK Declaration, para. 62; ICJ Denmark Declaration, para. 38.

92 Juliette McIntyre, “The Russia-Ukraine War: Contemporary Developments and Challenges,” University of Newcastle, Australia University of Newcastle, Australia: YouTube, 17 October 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzWWNeCL-wI (accessed 21 October 2022).

93 Ibid.

94 Ibid. E.g. ICJ Austria Declaration, paras 16–17.

95 McIntyre, “The Russia-Ukraine War.”

96 States such as Greece, Germany, and Austria have expressed their willingness to work collaboratively in presenting their arguments so as to assist the Court in the interest of an “expedient administration of justice”. ICJ Greece Declaration, para. 19; ICJ German Declaration, para. 19; ICJ Austria Declaration, para. 8.

97 McIntyre, “The Russia-Ukraine War”.

98 International Court of Justice, Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Bosnia and Herzegovina v. Serbia and Montenegro), Judgment, 26 February 2007, I.C.J. Reports 2007, p. 43, para. 166 (hereinafter – Bosnian Genocide Judgment).

99 Ibid.

100 Ibid.

101 Ibid., para. 223 (finding the ICTY findings "highly persuasive"); International Court of Justice, Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Croatia v. Serbia), Judgment, 3 February 2015, I.C.J. Reports 2015, p. 3, paras 440–441.

102 Bosnian Genocide Judgment, para. 181.

103 Ibid., para. 182.

104 International Criminal Court, “Situation in Ukraine,” International Criminal Court, https://www.icc-cpi.int/ukraine (accessed 1 September 2022).

105 CNN, “Zelensky Accuses Russia of Genocide in Ukraine,” CNN, 4 April 2022, https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2022/04/04/ukraine-russia-zelensky-genocide-bucha-nr-vpx.cnn (accessed 1 September 2022).

106 Joseph Lee and Doug Faulkner, “Ukraine War: Bucha Deaths ‘Not Far Short of Genocide’ – PM,” BBC News, 6 April 2022, https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-61011022 (accessed 1 September 2022).

107 Steve Holland and Jeff Mason, “Biden Accuses Russia of Genocide in Ukraine,” Reuters, 12 April 2022 https://www.reuters.com/world/biden-says-americans-should-not-pay-price-dictator-who-commits-genocide-2022-04-12/ (accessed 1 September 2022). See also Remarks by President Biden Before 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, The White House, 21 September 2022, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2022/09/21/remarks-by-president-biden-before-the-77th-session-of-the-united-nations-general-assembly/ (accessed 21 September 2022).

108 Elizabeth Whatcott, “Compilation of Countries Statements Calling Russian Actions in Ukraine ‘Genocide,’” Just Security, 20 May 2022, https://www.justsecurity.org/81564/compilation-of-countries-statements-calling-russian-actions-in-ukraine-genocide/ (accessed 1 September 2022)

109 Ibid.

110 Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, “Declaration on the Commission of Genocide by the Russian Federation in Ukraine, No. 2188-IX,” Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, 14 April 2022, https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2188-20#Text (accessed 1 September 2022).

111 Ibid.

112 President Zelenskyy's Video Address,The Presidential Office of Ukraine, 16 September 2022, https://www.president.gov.ua/videos/rosiya-povtorila-v-izyumi-te-sho-zrobila-v-buchi-svit-povine-3249.

113 Ibid.

114 Ibid.

115 ICTR, The Prosecutor v. Jean-Paul Akayesu, Judgment, Case No. ICTR-96-4-T, Trial Chamber I, 2 September 1998 (hereinafter Akayesu Trial Judgement), paras 517–518; ICTY, The Prosecutor v. Goran Jelisić, Judgment, Case No. IT-95-10-A, Appeals Chamber, 5 July 2001, paras 42–52.

116 Kai Ambos, “What Does ‘Intent to Destroy’ in Genocide Mean?” International Review of the Red Cross 91, no. 876 (2009): 838–839.

117 Akayesu Trial Judgement, paras 512–515.

118 Ibid., para. 512.

119 Ibid.

120 Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated 11.07.2022, No 440, “On amending the decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated 24 April 2019,” No 183, “On defining on humanitarian grounds persons who are entitled to apply for Russian citizenship in accordance with a simplified procedure” and Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated 29 April 2019, No 187 “On separate categories of foreign citizens and stateless persons who are entitled to apply for Russian citizenship in accordance with a simplified procedure,” Official Internet Portal of Legal Information, http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/0001202207110002 (accessed 1 September 2022) (in Russian).

121 Valentyna Borysenko, “How Many ‘Peoples’ Live in Ukraine,” Government's Gazette, 9 June 2017, https://ukurier.gov.ua/uk/articles/skilki-narodiv-zhive-v-ukrayini/ (accessed 1 September 2022) (in Ukrainian).

122 Larysa Masenko, “Language Situation in Socio-Linguistic Dimensions: War with Russia Affected Many [Ukrainians],” Radio Svoboda, 1 May 2020, https://www.radiosvoboda.org/amp/30586236.html (accessed 1 September 2022) (in Ukrainian).

123 ILC Report (1996), Draft Code of Crimes Against the Peace and Security of Mankind, Article 17 (commentary), pp. 45–46, para. 12; ICTR, The Prosecutor v. Laurent Semanza, Judgment and Sentence, Case No. ICTR-97-20-T, Trial Chamber III, 15 May 2003, para. 315; ICTY, The Prosecutor v. Radislav Krstić, Judgment, Case No. IT-98-33-A, Appeals Chamber, 19 April 2004, para. 25 (original footnote omitted).

124 OHCHR, Situation of Human Rights in Ukraine in the Context of the Armed Attack by the Russian Federation (24 February – 15 May 2022), 29 June 2022; Human Rights Watch, “Ukraine: Apparent War Crimes in Russia-Controlled Areas,” 3 April 2022, https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/04/03/ukraine-apparent-war-crimes-russia-controlled-areas (accessed 1 September 2022).

125 Paul Niland, “Putin's Mariupol Massacre is One of the 21st Century's Worst War Crimes,” Atlantic Council, 24 May 2022, https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/putins-mariupol-massacre-is-one-the-worst-war-crimes-of-the-21st-century/ (accessed 1 September 2022).

126 Halya Coynash, “Russia Accused of Using Mobile Crematoria to Hide Its War Crimes in Mariupol,” Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, 11 April 2022, https://khpg.org/en/1608810391 (accessed 1 September 2022).

127 Amnesty International, “Ukraine: Deadly Mariupol Theatre Strike ‘A Clear War Crime’ by Russian Forces,” 30 June 2022, https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/06/ukraine-deadly-mariupol-theatre-strike-a-clear-war-crime-by-russian-forces-new-investigation/ (accessed 1 September 2022); Truth Hounds, “Labour of Truth: Myths and Reality: Russia's Attack on a Maternity Hospital in Mariupol as a War Crime,” 16 March 2022, https://truth-hounds.org/en/myths-and-reality-russias-attack-on-a-maternity-hospital-in-mariupol-as-a-war-crime/ (accessed 1 September 2022) (in Ukrainian).

128 BBC Interview with President Zelenskyy, “It Is Not War, It Is Genocide”: Full Text of the Interview, 14 April 2022, https://www.bbc.com/russian/features-61100748?ocid=wsrussian.social.in-app-messaging.telegram..russiantelegram_.edit (accessed 1 September 2022).

129 Pjotr Sauer and Andrew Roth, “‘It was worse than hell’: Life in Mariupol Under Russian Occupation,” The Guardian, 16 June 2022, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/16/ukraine-life-in-mariupol-under-russian-occupation (accessed 25 October 2022).

130 Noelle Quénivet, “The Conflict in Ukraine and Genocide,” Journal of International Peacekeeping, 25 (2022): 151; Telegram channel, Advisor to Mariupol City Mayor Petro Andryuschenko, 21 May 2022, 18:12 (on impossibility of leaving Mariupol for residents).

131 Human Rights Watch, "Ukraine: Russian Forces Tortured Izium Detainees", 19 October 2022, https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/10/19/ukraine-russian-forces-tortured-izium-detainees (accessed 19 October 2022).

132 Ibid.

133 Ukraine conflict: "Russian soldiers raped me and killed my husband", BBC News, 11 April 2022, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61071243 (accessed 1 September 2022).

134 E.g. Intercepted phone conversation on torture, in which Ukrainians were described as “not human” [ne lyudi], https://armyinform.com.ua/2022/05/04/katuvannya-rosijskymy-vijskovymy-zdijsnyuyutsya-pid-kontrolem-fsb/, 4 May 2022 (accessed 1 September 2022); Security Service of Ukraine, Telegram Channel, 24 May 2022, 12:24 (on fulfilling a “dream” of killing “ukr” used as a derogatory word for Ukrainian).

135 Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, Bringing Them Home: Report of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families (April 1997).

136 Danish Prime Minister's Office, “Apology to 22 Greenlandic Children Who Were Sent to Denmark in 1951”, 8 December 2020, https://www.stm.dk/presse/pressemeddelelser/undskyldning-til-de-22-groenlandske-boern-som-blev-sendt-til-danmark-i-1951/ (accessed 1 September 2022) (in Danish).

137 Matthew Lippman, “Genocide: The Crime of the Century. The Jurisprudence of Death at the Dawn of the New Millennium,” Hous. J. Int'l L. 23, no. 23(3) (2000): 467, at 524 (noting that forcible transfer of children “appears to constitute more of a cultural than a biological attack on the integrity of a group”).

138 GA, 6th Committee, 83rd meeting, UN Doc A/C.6/SR.83 (1948) (per Mr Perez Perozo), at 195.

139 Human Rights Watch, “We Had No Choice”: “Filtration” and the Crime of Forcibly Transferring Ukrainian Civilians to Russia,” 1 September 2022, https://www.hrw.org/report/2022/09/01/we-had-no-choice/filtration-and-crime-forcibly-transferring-ukrainian-civilians (accessed 1 September 2022).

140 European Parliament resolution on human rights violations in the context of the forced deportation of Ukrainian civilians to and the forced adoption of Ukrainian children in Russia (2022/2825RSP), 15 September 2022, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2022-0320_EN.html (accessed 15 September 2022).

141 Laurie R. Blank, “Forcible Transfer of Children in Ukraine: An Element of Genocide,” Jurist, 21 April 2022, https://www.jurist.org/commentary/2022/04/laurie-blank-russia-invasion-ukraine-genocide/ (accessed 1 September 2022).

142 UNESCO, “Damaged Cultural Sites in Ukraine Verified by UNESCO,” UNESCO, 20 August 2022, https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/damaged-cultural-sites-ukraine-verified-unesco (accessed 1 September 2022). See also: Denis Azarov, Dmytro Koval, Gaiane Nuridzhanian and Volodymyr Venher, “Genocide committed by the Russian Federation in Ukraine: Legal Reasoning And Historical Context,” 1 August 2022, SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4217444 (accessed 1 September 2022), 28–30.

143 ICTY, The Prosecutor v. Radovan Karadzic, Judgment, Case No. IT-95-5/18-T, Trial Chamber, 24 March 2016, para. 553.

144 Kristina Hook, “Why Russia's War in Ukraine Is a Genocide: Not Just a Land Grab, but a Bid to Expunge a Nation,” Foreign Affairs, 28 July 2022, https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/why-russias-war-ukraine-genocide (accessed 1 September 2022).

145 ICTY, Prosecutor v. Radislav Krstić, Judgment, Case No. IT-98-33-T, Trial Chamber, 2 August 2001 (hereinafter – Krstić Trial Judgment), para. 590; ILC Report (1996), Draft Code of Crimes Against the Peace and Security of Mankind, Article 17 (commentary), p. 45, para. 8.

146 Catherine Renshaw, “The Numbers Game: Substantiality and the Definition of Genocide,” Journal of Genocide Research (22 June 2021): 3; David Alonzo-Maizlish, “In Whole or in Part: Group Rights, the Intent Element of Genocide, and the Quantitative Criterion,” New York University Law Review 77, no. 5 (2002): 1388.

147 Yaroslav Pryshchepa, “1,167 Bodies of Ukrainians Were Found around Bucha, Says Ministry of Interior,” Suspilne Media, 7 June 2022, https://suspilne.media/247767-poblizu-buci-znajsli-vze-1137-til-zagiblih-ukrainciv-mvs/ (accessed 1 September 2022) (in Ukrainian).

148 Saskya Vandoorne and Melissa Bell, “Mariupol Death Toll at 22,000, Says Mayor's Adviser,” CNN News, 24 May 2022, https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-05-24-22/h_95e94c548d8a5f49e0b97bc3415c9320 (accessed 1 September 2022).

149 Ministry of Interior of Ukraine, “Igor Klymenko [Head of Ukrainian National Police]: Exhumation of Bodies Has Been Completed in Izyum,” 24 September 2022, https://www.kmu.gov.ua/news/ihor-klymenko-ekshumatsiia-til-iz-mistsia-masovoho-pokhovannia-v-iziumi-zavershena (accessed 24 September 2022) (in Ukrainian).

150 Yuliya Sokolova, “[Russian] Occupiers Transferred to RF More Than 1 million Ukrainians, 200,000 of These are Children – Denysova [former Ukrainian Ombudsman],” Fakty, 9 May 2022, https://fakty.com.ua/ua/ukraine/20220509-okupanty-vyvezly-do-rf-ponad-1-mln-ukrayincziv-z-nyh-200-tys-ditej-denisova/ (accessed 1 September 2022) (in Ukrainian).

151 ICTY, Prosecutor v. Milomir Stakić, Case No. IT-97-24-A, Appeals Chamber, 22 March 2006 (hereinafter – Stakić Appeal Judgement), para. 20.

152 ILC Report (1996), Draft Code of Crimes Against the Peace and Security of Mankind, Article 17 (commentary), p. 45, para. 7; Akayesu Trial Judgment, para. 521; Krstić Trial Judgment, para. 552.

153 Vladimir Putin, “Article by Vladimir Putin ‘On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians,’” President of Russia, 12 July 2021, http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/66181 (accessed 1 September 2022); Timofei Sergeitsev, “What Should Russia Do With Ukraine”, RIA Novosti, 3 April 2022, https://ria.ru/20220403/ukraina-1781469605.html (accessed 1 September 2022) (in Russian).

154 President Zelenskyy's Address to Democracy Summit Haaretz, 24 October 2022, https://www.president.gov.ua/videos/mozhna-pozbaviti-sensu-alyans-rosiyi-ta-iranu-yaksho-mi-bude-3489 (accessed 24 October 2022); President Zelenskyy's Address, 17 October 2022, https://www.president.gov.ua/videos/sho-menshe-teroristichnih-mozhlivostej-bude-v-rosiyi-shvidsh-3453 (accessed 17 October 2022); President Zelenskyy's Address, 10 October 2022, https://www.president.gov.ua/videos/ukrayinu-nemozhlivo-zalyakati-tilki-she-bilshe-obyednati-zve-3409 (accessed 10 October 2022) (in Ukrainian).

155 Volodymyr Zelensky, “It Is Necessary That Russia Stops Killing People: Full Text Of Zelenskyy's Speech at The UN Security Council,” Presidential Office, 29 June 2022, https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/potribno-shob-rosiya-pripinila-vbivati-lyudej-potribno-prity-76109 (accessed 1 September 2022); Dmytro Kuleba, Twitter, 10 October, 14:19 (speaking of Russia's “missile terror” as an attempt “to change the pace of war in [Russia's] favour”).

156 PACE, Further escalation in the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine, Res 2463 (2022).

157 Ingrid (Wuerth) Brunk, “How Congress Should Designate Russia a State Sponsor of Terrorism”, Just Security, 27 September 2022, https://www.justsecurity.org/83263/how-congress-should-designate-russia-a-state-sponsor-of-terrorism/ (accessed 1 October 2022).

158 ICTY, Prosecutor v. Stanislav Galić, Appeal Judgment, Case No. IT-98-29-A, Appeals Chamber, 30 November 2006 (hereinafter – Galić Appeal Judgement), para. 104.

159 E.g. Presidential Office, “Speech by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Saeima of Latvia,” Presidential Office, 26 May 2022, https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/vistup-prezidenta-ukrayini-volodimira-zelenskogo-u-saejmi-la-75385 (accessed 1 September 2022); Presidential Office, “Speech by Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak at the Securing Europe Panel in the Framework of the World Economic Forum in Davos,” Presidential Office, 24 May 2022, https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/vistup-kerivnika-ofisu-prezidenta-ukrayini-andriya-yermaka-n-75353 (accessed 1 September 2022); Dmytro Kuleba, Twitter, 22 October 2022, 15:13 (describing strikes on Ukrainian critical infrastructure as “genocide” under Art. 2(c) of the Genocide Convention); 23 October 2022 (calling the remarks of RT's Director of Broadcasting Anton Krasovsky as “incitement to genocide”).

160 President of Russia, “Joint News Conference with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko,” President of Russia, 12 April 2022, http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/68182 (accessed 1 September 2022); “‘Kyiv is promoting the same scenario in Izyum as in Bucha,’ declared in the Kremlin,” RIA, 19 September 2022, https://ria.ru/20220919/izyume-1817804180.html (accessed 19 September 2022) (in Russian).

161 Ukraine v. Russia Provisional Measures Order, paras 59, 86.

162 For a broader discussion on the limits of international law in qualifying Russian crimes in Ukraine as genocide, see A. Dirk Moses, “The Ukraine Genocide Debate Reveals the Limits of International Law,” Lawfare, 16 May 2022, https://www.lawfareblog.com/ukraine-genocide-debate-reveals-limits-international-law (accessed 6 September 2022).

163 Karim A.A. Khan, “Statement of ICC Prosecutor, Karim A.A. Khan QC, at the Arria-Formula Meeting of the UN Security Council on ‘Ensuring Accountability for Atrocities Committed in Ukraine,’” International Criminal Court, 27 April 2022, https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/statement-icc-prosecutor-karim-aa-khan-qc-arria-formula-meeting-un-security-council-ensuring (accessed 1 September 2022).

164 On 28 April 2022, Bucha District Prosecutor's Office initiated criminal proceedings against 10 Russian military on the charges of the cruel treatment of the civilian population under Article 438(1) CC. See: OPG official Facebook page, 28 April 2022, https://www.facebook.com/pgo.gov.ua/posts/359030732926433 (accessed 1 September 2022) (in Ukrainian)).

165 Ruth Green, “The IBA Interview: Andriy Kostin, Prosecutor General of Ukraine,” International Bar Association, 4 October 2022, https://www.ibanet.org/interview-Andriy-Kostin-Prosecutor-General-of-Ukraine (accessed 4 October 2022).

166 New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy and Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, An Independent Legal Analysis of the Russian Federation's Breaches of the Genocide Convention in Ukraine and the Duty to Prevent (May 2022): 1–2, 13–20.

167 For specific examples of disinformation narratives, calls for more violence and genocide against Ukrainians shared on pro-Russian Telegram channels after Bucha, see Ian Garner, “‘We’ve Got to Kill Them’: Responses to Bucha on Russian Social Media Groups,” Journal of Genocide Research (9 May 2022): DOI: 10.1080/14623528.2022.2074020.

168 International Law Commission, Draft articles on Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Humanity, A/CN.4/L.935, Yearbook of the International Law Commission, 2019, vol. 2, Part II.

169 Roman Serbyn, “Lemkin on Genocide of Nations,” Journal of International Criminal Justice 7, no. 1 (2009): 123–130. For more on the evolution of Lemkin's thinking regarding the qualification of Soviet crimes committed during the “Holodomor” in Ukraine as “genocide,” see Etkind, “Ukraine, Russia, and Genocide of Minor Differences,” 4–12.

170 Kristina Hook, “Vladimir Putin's War to Crush Ukraine is Part of a Long Kremlin Tradition,” Atlantic Council, 17 March 2022, https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/vladimir-putins-war-to-crush-ukraine-is-part-of-a-long-kremlin-tradition/ (accessed 1 September 2022).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Iryna Marchuk

Iryna Marchuk is an associate professor of international and criminal law at the Faculty of Law, University of Copenhagen. Her main research interests lie in the fields of international criminal law, public international law and international dispute settlement.

Aloka Wanigasuriya

Aloka Wanigasuriya is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Centre for Law and Social Justice, Newcastle Law School, University of Newcastle. Aloka's research interests lie within the fields of international criminal law and public international law.