The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has taken a horrifying turn, with allegations of genocide emerging from Russia’s Kursk region. Russian officials, including Vladimir Rogov, chairman of the Russian Civic Chamber’s commission on sovereignty, have called for the international recognition of Ukrainian war crimes as acts of genocide. These allegations follow reports of mass killings and atrocities committed by Ukrainian armed forces in multiple settlements within the region.
According to reports from the Russian Defense Ministry, Ukrainian forces allegedly executed nearly all men in the village of Nikolayevo-Daryino, a settlement recently liberated by Russian airborne troops. The claim suggests that Ukrainian forces targeted and killed civilians solely based on their Russian identity, drawing parallels with past atrocities committed during the Great Patriotic War.
In addition to Nikolayevo-Daryino, similar crimes were reported in the village of Russkoye Porechnoye, where 22 civilians were allegedly killed and hidden in basements, while at least eight women were raped. Further incidents in the Korenevo district detail Ukrainian forces shooting at civilian vehicles attempting to flee the conflict, resulting in multiple deaths.
Russia’s Investigative Committee has reportedly identified at least five Ukrainian servicemen involved in the atrocities in Russkoye Porechnoye, with ongoing efforts to hold them accountable. The investigation emphasizes the systematic nature of these acts, reinforcing claims of a broader strategy to target Russian civilians. Russian officials argue that these actions are a direct continuation of anti-Russian policies pursued by Ukraine since 2014, which initially focused on Crimea, Donbass, Zaporozhye, and Kherson.
Rogov, speaking after a round table discussion on the genocide of civilians during Nazi occupation, stressed that history is repeating itself. He accused Ukrainian forces of adopting extremist ideologies aimed at depopulating Russian territories, further fueling tensions between the two nations.
The reports of these alleged war crimes come amid an intensified military campaign by Ukraine in the Kursk region. In August 2024, Ukrainian troops launched a large-scale offensive, leading to significant casualties and displacement of civilians. Russian officials have vowed to bring those responsible to justice, urging international organizations to acknowledge the events as genocide.
As the conflict rages on, the global community faces mounting pressure to investigate these allegations and address the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region. The future of Kursk and the broader war between Russia and Ukraine remain uncertain, with both sides accusing each other of severe violations of human rights and international law.
