Boris Johnson says Russia's actions not 'far short of genocide'

Boris Johnson has claimed Russia’s actions in Ukraine at not “far short of genocide”.

The Prime Minister used the word to described Russia's actions for the first time as world leaders demanded an international tribune to go after Vladimir Putin for war crimes.

Mr Johnson's escalation in language came after pictures emerged of civilians being murdered and mass graves dug in Bucha, near Kyiv.

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Speaking during a visit to a hospital in Welwyn Garden City, the Prime Minister said he was confident there would be more international sanctions imposed on Vladimir Putin’s regime.

Soldiers walk amid destroyed Russian tanks in Bucha, on the outskirts of KyivSoldiers walk amid destroyed Russian tanks in Bucha, on the outskirts of Kyiv
Soldiers walk amid destroyed Russian tanks in Bucha, on the outskirts of Kyiv

“I’m afraid when you look at what’s happening in Bucha, the revelations that we are seeing from what Putin has done in Ukraine doesn’t look far short of genocide to me,” he said.

“It is no wonder people are responding in the way that they are. I have no doubt that the international community, Britain very much in the front rank, will be moving again in lockstep to impose more sanctions and more penalties on Vladimir Putin’s regime.”

Russia has insisted the images are faked.

On Wednesday the number of heads of state and former prime ministers across the world backing calls for an international tribunal to try Putin over the war in Ukraine has reached 50.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures during a visit to the New Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire.Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures during a visit to the New Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures during a visit to the New Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire.

A petition supporting the move has topped 1.5 million, with former UK prime minister Gordon Brown saying there had to be a “clear path” to bring the Russian leader to justice.

Last week the United Nations human rights body appointed a commission to investigate accusations of war crimes committed in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and identify those responsible.

The Prime Minister’s comments echoed those of the former head of the British Army, Lord Dannatt.

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Speaking to Sky News, he said: “The war crimes are stacking up to the point that it looks like a concerted effort to reduce the Ukrainian population, and that is getting very close to the definition of genocide.

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“It’s absolutely right and proper that all these war crimes are being chronicled and evidence is being gathered.

“It is looking to me increasingly like genocide that is plotted from the top. The top, therefore, must bear responsibility and maybe one day, even if not in a physical court but in a court of history, be condemned.”

Lord Dannatt was unsure if Putin or his senior generals would face trial, but added that it is still possible.

He told the programme: “If you think back to the early, dark days of the Bosnian civil war, it seemed inconceivable that Milosevic (former Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic) and Karadzic (Bosnian Serb former leader Radovan Karadzic) would find their way into court, but they did.

“It became perfectly possible to trace what had happened on the ground all the way up to them through this concept of command responsibility such that they were convicted.”

It comes as US, UK and EU were set to impose new punishing sanctions targeting Russia, including a ban on all new investment in the country.

Videos and images of bodies have unleashed a wave of indignation among western allies, who have drawn up new sanctions as a response.

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