Ukraine says atrocities uncovered as Russian troops withdraw could amount to genocide
KYIV, Ukraine — As the Ukrainian army liberates territory from Russian occupation, authorities say they are finding evidence of atrocities and crimes against humanity that could amount to genocide.
Oleg Nikolenko, the spokesman for Ukraine’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, said the findings point to the need for a special tribunal. But Ukraine’s allies, including Canada, question the proposal.
Nikolenko called the evidence “horrible” in a recent interview in Kyiv, and he added his voice to the debate that has been going on since the spring over whether Russia’s actions since its February invasion are genocidal.
“Unfortunately, every city that the Ukrainian army liberates, we find there places of mass atrocities, mass graves, torture rooms,” he said. “All those cases are being investigated right now. They are evidence of war crimes, crimes against humanity. And if we take a look overall at Russia’s crimes in Ukraine, it can amount even to a genocide.”