Ukraine 2022

The unfolding situation in Ukraine raises many questions about what constitutes a crime during war, and whether evidence of civilian deaths can indicate genocide. We offer some sources below to help you study this continuing crisis and these issues of international law and humanitarian concern. Please also visit our Learn page for the legal definition of genocide and the legal means to address it.

***WARNING: Images in these reports may be very disturbing; proceed with caution.***

On March 15, 2022, the United States Senate passed a unanimous resolution calling Vladimir Putin a war criminal
On April 4, 2022, the PBS Newshour ran two reports: 1) "Russian withdrawal from Bucha exposes atrocities against Ukrainian civilians" and 2) "What international crimes are Russians committing in Ukraine?"
- - It may be helpful for you to also review the definition of the "Crime of Aggression" and the other crimes punishable by the International Criminal Court.
On April 4, 2022, The New York Times reported that "Satellite images show bodies lay in Bucha for weeks, despite Russian claims" and that residents of a town east of Kyiv recount "detention, beating, mock execution" occurred under Russian occupation.
- - It may be helpful to read how the NYTimes verifies "images of war taken in Ukraine"
On April 6, Eugene Finkel (a scholar of the Holocaust and a descendant of Holocaust survivors) wrote an opinion piece in The Washington Post that "What is happening in Ukraine is genocide. Period."
On April 12, NPR reported that President Biden used the term genocide when talking about what is happening in Ukraine. Earlier in the day, NPR broadcast an interview with Professor Leila Sadat: "it may be hard, but not impossible, to prove genocide in Ukraine"
On April 13 AP published EXPLAINER: Why using term ‘genocide’ matters in Ukraine war article to clarify whether the term genocide can be applied to current events in Ukraine.

Statement by museums on the war crimes committed in Ukraine - Illinois Holocaust MuseumMuseums are bearers of history. By housing the artifacts and documents of the past, we ensure that the truth, both noble and horrific, of what humanity has done remains shared and accessible. We at Holocaust museums around the world have a particular mission. The stories we tell are ones of destruction and pain, and of... Read More

Teaching about the Ukrainian Refugee CrisisUse this Teaching Idea to introduce students to the experiences of Ukrainian refugees fleeing war, highlight inspiring ways people have stepped up to help, and raise ethical questions about the treatment of refugees from non-European countries.

For Holocaust survivors from Ukraine, Russian invasion stirs painful memoriesEight decades after they were driven from their homes in Ukraine, Holocaust survivors see echoes of the past in current war.