Wed Sep 18 04:10:08 UTC 2024: ## Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Accuses Russia of Genocide, Citing Child Abductions and Cultural Destruction

**Mexico City, September 17, 2024** – Andriy Kostin, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General, has declared that his team is investigating potential Russian crimes against Ukrainians, including genocide. During a session at the International Bar Association’s annual conference, Kostin highlighted the abduction of Ukrainian children to Russia, as well as the destruction of Ukrainian cultural heritage, as key areas of their investigation. He also explicitly linked the mass killings in Bucha to possible acts of genocide.

The crime of genocide, as defined by the UN Convention, involves the intent to destroy a protected group, in whole or in part, through acts such as killing, causing serious bodily or mental harm, and forcibly transferring children. While proving intent can be challenging, the abduction of Ukrainian children and their subsequent indoctrination in Russian schools, including forced adoptions, raise serious concerns.

Kostin emphasized the severity of these actions, stating that Russia is “attempting to steal our future.” The International Criminal Court (ICC) has already deemed the treatment of Ukrainian children as war crimes and crimes against humanity, issuing arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, the Russian Child Commissioner.

Actor and humanitarian Liev Schreiber, co-founder of BlueCheck Ukraine, has been advocating for the return of Ukrainian children. He addressed the UN Security Council in February 2024, emphasizing the importance of reuniting families and calling for the safe return of all abducted children.

As evidence of Russian atrocities continues to emerge, there is a growing push to address these crimes under various international legal frameworks, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. Experts argue that acknowledging the full extent of these crimes is crucial for achieving justice and accountability, preventing future atrocities, and ensuring the safety of future generations of Ukrainians.

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