Russia continues to terrorize civilians. In the early hours of March 7, the Russian troops conducted air strikes on Mykolayiv and Kharkiv. Residential houses in Mykolayiv were damaged by Smerch multiple launch rocket systems. On March 7, 10 Kharkivites were killed, and 143 lost their lives since the beginning of the war. At least nine people were killed in an air strike on Vinnytsia on March 6. Evacuation of civilians from Mariupol and Irpin is blocked as the Russian troops carry on attacks.
“Genocide as Kremlin’s weapon”: Ukraine takes case against Russia to ICJ. Ukraine sought an emergency order from the International Court of Justice following Russia’s invasion of February 24. The United Nations’ highest court is using a fast-track procedure that can bring a provisional ruling soon. The outcome of the case is likely to Ukraine’s benefit, international lawyers quoted by European Pravda say.
“Nuremberg trials” against Russia. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has backed the establishment of a special international tribunal to try Russia’s leaders for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.
Ukraine and partners launched a number of international claims to hold Russia to account. These are the claims filed to the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice, and the European Court of Human Rights. The courts consider Russia’s crimes that are part of its military aggression against Ukraine.
There was a precedent in the past century, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said referring to the declaration signed in London in 1942 that laid the basis for the Nuremberg trials.
“In view of Russia’s unprovoked aggression, unprecedented in more than 80 years, and lack of appropriate international legal mechanisms to hold Russia and its leadership to account for a crime against humanity, I supported the initiative of the international academic community to set up a special tribunal to consider the crime of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. A coalition of states will set it up. Ukraine collects evidence of the crime of aggression against it, and thanks the partners for willingness to support the work,” Kuleba said.
Third round of Russia-Ukraine talks. The third round of Ukraine-Russia talks yielded “some positive results” on humanitarian corridors but had no breakthrough, advisor to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Mykhailo Podolyak said. Advisor to the Russian President Vladimir Medinsky said that Russia’s expectations were not met.
