GENOCIDE PART 1

GENOCIDE

GENOCIDE

War Crimes in Ukraine

2022-2023

War Crimes in Ukraine

2022-2023

Kacper Cyckowski

Genocide

Content warning

This book contains sensitive materials and adult language that may be distressing to some readers, there is upsetting imagery and stories within this book.

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to everyone who helped contribute content towards this book. it is impossible to fully acknowledge or accuratly credit all of the bits of vaulable information that has been gathered.

I would also like to say a very special thanks to Yana Rudenko who shared her story with me, it was an insightful story and I am grateful to have had it shared with me.

WAR CRIMES Definition 10-13

Introduction 14-45

Mariupol 46-79

Bucha 80-99

Izium 100-115

Stories of the devasted 116-135

The content provided in this book is accurate to when it happened, figures may slightly to present day.

WAR CRIMES Definition

WHAT ARE WAR CRIMES?

According to the UN, war crime is a serious breach of international law committed against civilians during an international or domestic war conflict.

War crimes are when violations are breached of international humanitarian law, these provoke individual criminal responsibility under this international law. As a result of these horrendous crimes of genocide, these are crimes against humanity, war crimes must take place in the context of an armed conflict, this can either be international or non-international.

War crimes fall under the banning of certain behaviour concerning armed conflict can be possibly traced back many centuries. These concepts of war crimes were particularly created at the end of the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century, when international humanitarian law, this is also known as the law of armed conflict, was bought to life. Several other different treaties have later been adopted. In large contrast, the four 1949 Geneva conventions and the two 1977 Additional Protocols, focus on the protection of persons not or no longer part taking part in the hatred. Both Hague and Geneva laws identify several of the violations of the normal, though not all are identified, they are as war crimes.

Some of the examples relating to the prohibited acts include; murder, mutilation, cruel treatment leading to torture towards civilians, taking people as hostages (this could include intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population) under the attacking of civilians, if buildings relating to religion, education and much more buildings. The idea of rape, sexual slavery, forced pregnancy or any other form of sexual violence; the list does go on. These are crimes that we would never wish on anymore as they leave scars and trauma on individuals.

However, no one document in this international law states all of the war crimes that have been committed. Within the Ukraine invasion itself there have has been more than inhumane war crimes registered and put into the public.

WHAT ARE THE LAWS OF WAR?

Certain rules that are placed within war are that the impact of combat on civilians should be limited and their lives, hospitals and emergency workers should not be attacked as they are important to everyday life and for civilians who need help.

There is also a rule to ensure that residents are given a secure and safe path to flee from the attacked city, this is an aspect that Russia did not respect and they did not secure this safe route for people to flee. For the safety of a community and everyone around it is mandated that the sick and wounded have a right to be cared for, regardless of whose side they are on everyone deserves a life. As in war it explicitly forbids rape or other forms of sexual violence in the context of armed conflict.

This is just a small part of the rules that Russian troops did not follow, they were very much ignored, they broke so many of the laws for the sake of destroying a country.

These are a few examples of war crimes committed within Ukraine, there are many more that have not been registered, but it is horrifying the ones that have been committed.

“The taking of hostages is prohibited.” Art. 32, 34 P.1. IV Geneva Convention. 12.08.1949

“Women shall be especially protected against any attack on their honour, in particular against rape, enforced prostitution, or any form of indecent assault.”

Art. 3. P.1. IV Geneva Convention. 12.08.1949

“Persons taking no active part in the hostilities shall in all circumstances be treated humanely.”

Art. 3. P.1. IV Geneva Convention. 12.08.1949

«Civilian objects shall not be the object of attack or of reprisals. Attacks shall be limited strictly to military objectives.

Art. 52. Protocol I Additional to the Geneva Conventions. 08.06.1977

Introduction

One Year On from Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine...

Friday, 24 February 2023, marks One Year since the unprovoked and unforgivable invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, destroying a nation.

In the early morning of 24 February 2022, after accumulating an army of about 150,000 soldiers, the Russian Federation invaded Ukraine, this involved sending troops across the border and firing missiles at the capital city Kyiv... But it didn’t stop there!

Since then, Russian forces have killed and wounded over 20,000 civilians, including over 1000 children. They have been damaged and destroyed by these deadly strikes on civilian infrastructure, this included; houses, hospitals, schools, religious buildings and cultural sites.

Ukrainian law enforcement agencies are investigating almost 70,000 Russian war crimes and crimes of aggression committed since February 24, 2022. Russia has shamed itself in front of the whole world through its unprovoked and bloody actions.

Russian propaganda claimed Ukraine would only last a few days. In reality, Ukraine has not only stopped the invasion but has freed nearly half of the newly occupied territories through successful counter-offensives.

Russia’s violent actions continue as you read

The people of Ukraine have suffered unimaginable horror during this war.

The international community must stand steadfast to see this through to the end so that justice is served. The world should make no mistakes when considering how the end of this war should look like. This war is not only about Ukraine. Russia’s brutal attack destroyed global security and endangered all nations.

Over tens of thousands of cases of different and horrifying war crimes have been filed and put into the public for everyone to see, because of this we would all be aware of the inhumane nature of the Russian Troops. Many of these included sexual and gender based crimes, but the number of victims because of the conflict which is still ongoing will be much higher than ever.

When Russian tanks first rolled into the peaceful country a year ago it was feared it would be over in days and yet here we are. It is clear Ukraine and its people are supported by allies and they have all defied Vladimir Putin however the world is unclear about what happens next as the war continues to destroy.

Putin overestimated the Russian military capabilities and whilst he was unaware he underestimated the Ukrainian resistance as it was a lot stronger than he ever thought it would be. Russian forces have taken territory but face humiliating setbacks and mass losses of their own as Ukraine begins to fight back and take back what is rightfully theirs.

Regardless of these setbacks being faced, Russia keeps launching relentless attacks using powerful missiles and drones targeting Ukraine’s infrastructure and cities.

The hands of Vladimir Putin and his armed forces are stained with blood. Survivors deserve justice and reparations for all they have endured.

A timeline of the Russian full scale Invasion of Ukraine

Putin began to announce his plan for a “special military operation”. This was announced in the early hours, and Putin ordered his troops into Ukraine to start this operation.

Febuary 24th 2022

Many people didn’t believe this was going to happen. This was to “demilitarise” and “denazify” Ukraine as it is. Moments, after this was announced to the public loud explosions, were heard from many homes, these were heard at 5 am on a Thursday. They entered the country through Belarus going to the north and south. As the air raid sirens rang out across Kyiv in the early morning on Thursday Zelensky moved to enact martial law and the government ministers accused Moscow of launching a “full-scale invasion”.

This could be the start of the biggest war in Europe since 1945, as these fears shook the residents’ heavy traffic could be seen blocking the roads these were heading west of the city. Whereas further east, near the Russian border, the mayor of the city of Kharkiv urged their citizens to not leave their homes for their safety. Despite Putin threatening the country by saying

This was aimed at anyone who is trying to interfere, but Ukraine was determined to fight back against the bloodshed. A small number of Ukrainian troops were stationed on Snake Island although this outpost was attacked the troops are believed to be doing well, however, on the 24th a tiny but strategic Black Sea outpost responded to the Russian vessel heading in their direction

“Russian warship: Go fuck yourself!”

Just north of Kyiv, the capture of Antonov airport was the first major victory that the Russians had made, this was one of the most major cargo airports in the area. However the plan didn’t go right for Moscow, as the Russian troops inside the airport were encircled, and there wasn’t a chance to bring in reinforcements as quickly. By the time the Ukrainian troops had withdrawn from this area, there was too much damage caused to it that Russia had no use for it, they couldn’t use it to resupply. During this attack the world’s largest plane, the Antonov An-225 was also destroyed.

“consequences you have never experienced in your history”

Febuary 25th 2022

Within the area of Kyiv amid all the chaos which was happening during the opening hours of the war, it was highly rumoured that, the leadership of Ukraine had fled from the country. President Zelenksy and his team posted a video on social media, that was in the centre of Kyiv and it was to reassure the nation. Beforehand the US offered to evacuate the president away from the war according to the Ukrainian government he had said

“I need ammunition, not a ride”

Therefore staying in his beloved country. As of 5 am their local time no explosion had been heard by anyone, the city was quiet. Earlier on Saturday between 2 and 4 am, there was a deafening sound of loud explosions heard to the west and south of the city, this caused the sky to light up with a series of flashes, similar to that of a lightning storm, but very much worse.

Zelensky Official / Facebook

March 2nd 2022

There were reports of numerous refugees at the Polish border awaiting to flee, and hundreds of thousands of civilians were forced to flee the country. UNHCR (United Nations Refugee Agency) said that at least 100,000 people had left their homes in the first 24 hours of the invasion. There were thousands of cars formed at the borders, people even waited several days to flee into Poland. Civilians also fled to other neighbouring countries but Poland had the highest number of refugees.There were number of reports saying that at least 136 civilians have been killed, but this number is likely to be much higher. During this Russia also claimed that they had also seized Kherson, this would start a new line of horror as this city get attacked day by day.

March 4th 2022

Bucha is invaded by Russian forces. Alongside this Russian forces captured the largest power plant in Europe, after a massive fire was put out, Ukrainian workers continued to operate within the facility, there have been no releases of radioactive material reported.

March 6th 2022

As the Russian troops began to approach the city of Kyiv, civilians who were living in the northwestern suburbs of the capital were caught up in heavy street-by-street war at that present moment. The destruction of the Irpin bridge was a bold move to stop the Russian tanks from entering Kyiv, it was a very bold attempt. Thousands of residents were trying to escape through the only route possible, as they tried to escape the shelling bombarded them, cars that were burning at the scene even with bullet holes, scooters and even wheelchairs were left behind. Most of the destruction fell to the river below them, the flow still carried on and most civilians went through the under of the bridge.

Several people were killed as they tried to evacuate the city of Irpin, northwest of Kyiv, during heavy shelling and bombing.

Picture: Daphne ROUSSEAU / AFP

Photos show heavy damage to an office at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Using buildings visible outside the window, NPR was able to verify the location as the main administrative building at the front of the facility. Energoatom

March 9th 2022

The infamous attack on the southwestern maternity hospital within Mariupol, this place was hit by a missile. Despite Russia agreeing to a 12-hour pause, if this was to happen civilians would have the chance to evacuate several towns and cities, away from the horrors being faced every day. From the scenes of devastation, a photo of a pregnant woman who was severely injured from the bombing being carried on a stretcher circulated the internet this became a symbolic feature of Russia’s ruthless attacks and aggression against its neighbour. It proved that they were just attacking for the fight, both the woman and baby died. Many more were injured.

March 16th 2022

Just after the bombing of the maternity hospital the Mariupol theatre was bombed and destroyed, this is one of the most shameless attacks that Russia has detonated on civilians. There was an estimate of 1,300 people sheltering at the time, the city had been under siege for weeks before the attack and this was the safest option for them. Around 300 died that day, but the number could be largely higher. Russia, denied that its forces were responsible, regardless of the seige beforehand, but it is one the biggest war crimes that were committed, instead, they claimed that Ukrainians blew it up.

First responders and volunteers carry an injured pregnant woman from a maternity hospital that was damaged by shelling in Mariupol, Ukraine, on Wednesday. The woman and her baby have since died.

Photo by Evgeniy Maloletka/AP

April 1st 2022

Whilst everything was happening around the country Bucha’s destruction was still being uncovered and Ukraine stood still, they left behind a trail of destruction - the evidence of the executions, brutality and shelling were all left behind, leaving residents heartbroken. Images show dozens of bodies of civilians scattered across a singular street in Bucha, this caused Russia to be investigated for the war crimes that were committed. Moscow had claimed that this was fake information and that these were staged, although the proof of all the evidence that has been collected.

April 8th 2022

Two Russian rockets hit a railway station that was based in the city of Kramatorsk, and roughly 4,000 people were fleeing from Ukraine at the time of the attack, these were mostly women and children with the elderly. Suitcases were left behind and toys were covered in blood, children also lost their limbs due to being targeted. 98 people were wounded - 16 children, 46 were women and 36 men were taken to the local hospitals. to get treated. Russian forces knew that they were striking fleeing civilians but decided the destruction, one missile on it said “for the children” In seeing this the reality of 5 children dying became a reality for the nation and everyone around them. This attack adds to the pile of evidence that shows that the Russian forces are deliberately targeting civilians.

Bucha civilians allegedly massacred by Russian soldiers.

Photo by Alex Kent/ Reuters

May 16th 2022

Ukrainian defenders of the Azovstal steel mill, being the last remaining stronghold in Mariupol agreed to surrender to the Russian forces, this fall of Mariupol cuts Ukraine off from the Azov coast and secures a land corridor, which leads from the Russian border to Crimea.

June 27th 2022

Within Kremenchuk Russian missiles struck acrowded shopping mall, more than 1,000 people were inside at the time that two missiles slammed into the building, at least 16 were killed and 59 were injured. People that were going out in their everyday lives were killed.

June 30th 2022

Russian troops pull away from Snake Island, located off the Black Sea port of Odesa. This was seized in the early days of the war, which meant that Ukrainian troops were able to take control back, to commend this they raised a flag, and the island was once again deserted.

Dozens of people were admitted to hospital after the attack. (Reuters: Anna Voitenko)

July 9th 2022

Rockets fired by the Russian forces struck an apartment building in Chasiv Yar, this killed at least 48 people. This was done at 21:17 local time, due to the impact caused by the missile, a five-story residential building partially collapsed, and the other two entrances were destroyed, leaving behind rubble and devastation.

August 9th 2022

There are some powerful explosions struck on an air base within Crimea. More blasts are seen and heard, this killed one person and wounded several others. Ukraine’s top military officer later acknowledges that the attacks on Crimea were launched by Kyiv’s forces.

September 2022

European gas prices spike as much as 30% after Russia states one of its main gas supply pipelines to Europe. On September 6th Ukrainian forces launch a surprise counter office in the Northeastern Kharkiv region, this quickly forced Russia to pull back from the broad areas that were held for months.

October 8th 2022

A truck that was covered in explosives blows up the bridge that links Crimea to Russia’s mainland in a lethal aggression that Putin was said to blame on Ukraine. Russia responds with a missile strike on Ukraine’s power plants and other key and important infrastructure.

Photo on the right: A man who survived the rocket attack . Narciso Contreras / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

November 9th 2022

Russia announced its pullback from the city of Kherson under an act of Ukrainian revenge. During the long months when Russians were in charge, the national flag was contraband. Kherson was the only provincial capital captured by Russia, seized in the invasion’s first weeks. It was temporary but a significant prize for Moscow. Hope and happiness are back, which will do the city very good for now. Even though this pullback meant a sense of freedom the shelling and destruction still happened.

December 5th 2022

Ukraine was accused by Russia of using long-range drones to attack the Russian military bases deep inside their territory, but Ukraine has not confirmed these attacks. Some Russians have also been seen joining the Ukrainian military, this is in a bid to fight against Moscows’s forces, with claims that

“this is the result of Putin’s war”

Showing that not all Russians are the same and support the choices. Another deep strike was seen to occur days later, this started to pose questions about Russia’s defence as a whole.

December 25th 2022

Putin says that Russia is ready to negotiate with everyone involved in the war, however, Kyiv and the western backers refused to engage in these talks. Kyiv says that Moscow isn’t serious about these talks and says it will not rest until all the Russian troops are removed from their territory. The interview with Putin was aired live.

December 31st 2022

On the last day of the year, air raid sirens are heard across Ukraine, and new rounds of missile strikes are seen to hit several regions. Within the capital of Kyiv, multiple explosions are shaking the citizens, this killed at least one person and left at least 20 wounded, because of this strike about 30% of the city has been left without power, this is due to the emergency shutdowns that were faced. Citizens try and celebrate their new year, hoping that 2023 could bring the peace that they deserve.

A resident walks into his house after a Russian missile strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, on December 31. (Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters)

January 1st 2023

Moments into the new year scores a new high for Ukraine as Russian soldiers are killed by a Ukrainian missile strike on the city of Makiivika. Russian defence military says that 89 of their troops were killed, whilst Ukrainian officials put the death toll into the hundreds.

January 14th 2023

Russia launches yet another wave of shelling on Ukraine’s energy facilities, whilst this is happening a missile hits a nine-story apartment building in the city of Dnipro, and this kills 46 people. Moscow continued its long-range offensive against civilian cities. During the strike, six children were wounded, yet another unprovoked attack on civilians living their everyday lives.

February 2023

Russia’s new offence began, this time they has the intention of capturing the rest of Donetsk and Luhansk. The heavy fighting continued, this was around the town of Bakhmut, Russian forces were unable to seize and capture the town, but it did take severe casualties.

A view shows an apartment building heavily damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Dnipro, Ukraine January 14, 2022. Governor of Dnipropetrovsk region Valentyn Reznichenko via Telegram/Handout via REUTERS.

WAR CRIMES REGISTERED

DON’T LOOK AWAY

BE TERRIFIED

CIVILIANS BUILDINGS DESTROYED

RUSSIA IS DOING ALL OF THIS RIGHT NOW

Mariupol

Before the war, the southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol was Ukraine’s 10th largest city, like other cities it was busy with a modern metropolis filled with arts and culture.

It was a thriving port city and a vacation spot bursting with colour and culture, it was best known as a space where people could relax and enjoy their time. The city has historically been a major trading and industrial hub for many people, it was the centre for metallurgy, engineering, steel production, and Iron production. The Azovstal steel plant supported 10,000 jobs within Mariupol and was responsible for the production of steel, iron and rolled metal.

However, due to the bloodshed of war, Ukrainian authorities estimate its current population to be approximately 100,000, not only this the city now lies in dullness and destruction.

Mariupol was believed to have had a population of over 400,000 citizens before the war started, but since then; due to the various attacks within the once beautiful city this population decreased rapidly.

These attacks included the beloved Drama Theater and the Maternity Hospital, since the start of the war roughly 66.7% have fled from the country for a better life and more than 250,000 have been killed unlawfully.

Since being occupied by the Russian forces, they have since taken Ukraine’s identity and achieved their most important goals; not to just capture the city but to destroy it. They are not at war with the army, they are at war with the residents. With many war crimes committed in this city and many others, Russia has won the battle in Mariupol but they haven’t destroyed the nation. With the current rebuild plans relating to the destroyed city, they can’t cover up the masses of crimes they have committed, and most importantly they can’t cover the mass graves that are present. For more than 80 days, Russian forces bombarded the once-quiet city, they were determined to take the city, and in May they put their stamp on Mariupol, erasing the past Ukrainian history.

A year on from the bloody invasion, perhaps the bloodiest and most shocking chapter of Russia’s brutal war... Mariupol greets the new year, peaceful 2022, it was relaxed. When the wind flew across the city Christmas tree branches fell to the ground, and a few suspicious whispers could only tell the bad omen that would lie with them for the rest of the year. During the first seven weeks of the year, life was normal, it goes on. People go to cafes, teenagers laugh as they slip onto the ice on the rink that was constructed behind the infamous Drama Theatre. In a restaurant, nearby women dance to a singer who happens to be singing in both Russian and English, during this time their husbands happily drink the beers that they were holding.

A few people became slightly uncomfortable with their life around them, they start to cleanse out their basements, equipping them with things such as; bomb shelter equipment and tinned food. Their friends often mocked them for such bizarre behaviour.In the early hours of February 24th, it all began, at around 5 am, calls went out to the chiefs of police and all other services, announcing that the hostilities have begun, most of them were awake, they were woken by the sound of the Russian Artillery.On those first few days of the fire, the fighting was minimal to the outskirts of the city. Wounded soldiers arrive at the hospitals from the frontline, and hundreds of people show up to donate blood, in the hopes to help a city.

There were already long queues at the cash machines and petrol stations, but public transport is still running, some people still go on with their normal lives, continuing as if everything is normal, heading to work, but they don’t know what is waiting for them in the upcoming hours or minutes. At the train station, a young couple scrabble along the platform dragging their suitcases and cradling a cat. In the hopes to escape this nightmare, the same goes for the weeping parents that bundle their children into the evacuation trains, who were heading to Kyiv. The trains leave half empty, and by the time most people realise the trauma that is coming to them, it will be too late for them to leave, they will be trapped in the uncertain horror. As a city, they hoped the hospitals will be spared from the unlawful shelling, but it was all naive of them to think of that.

Across town, a maternity ward was shelled into pieces, the hit was very hard, leaving people devastated and a massive hole in the ground just outside. Photographs of a heavily pregnant woman scrambling through the stacks of rubble shocked the world. Russian officials heavily imply that the woman was an actor and that this was fake, little did they know it was not and it was the horror that Ukrainians are living. Over weeks the fighting intensifies to a level where normal day tasks could end up as upsetting one-way missions.

During the small breaks in the shelling, people are seen digging shallow graves and they are burying the dead on the spot, these can be spotted around the city. The fighting intensifies to a level where dashing to a well or stream for a bucket of water carries a serious risk of being a one-way mission. In one central apartment block, a group of men run out to bury several older women, they were killed cooking over an open fire they had running outside. This was a huge scene that was repeated across the city. Many crimes were commited and many are still being commited, these were crimes that were not provoked.

Elsewhere in Ukraine, people are desperately trying to contact their relatives who live in Mariupol to find out if everything is okay, most importantly; if they are still alive. Over and over again all they could hear is “The phone is out of coverage” It is said that people have nightmares about the phrase and it repeats constantly. Every few days there might be a quick moment when a bar of reception appears and the phones of citizens light up with all these messages from loved ones. Sometimes, the delayed news brings a wave of overwhelming relief, and there is a sign of life; however, on other occasions, it seems to bring confirmation of people’s worst fears.

As time seems to go by, the people who have chosen to stay or simply can’t escape become angry and some become restless. It dawns on them that there is no way out of the bloodstained and doubtful war, they may die in their basements, from the cold nights, their hunger or the bomb that might blow them up and kill them.

The booms that shatter the city are endless and as a lady sits next to her window, it is currently the most unsafe place to be as the shard could be fatal, she does her makeup, but the sense of it being soothing calms her down. People in the block opposite her see her doing this routine and suspect that the lady may have gone mad; however, they start doing it too, and after some time it is a morning ritual that is established with many women, they sit at their windows waving at each other as they do their makeup routine. The small moment of humanity keeps them going, even on the worst days.