RUSSO-UKRANIAN WAR

The Russo-Ukrainian War is a long-running conflict between Russia (together with pro-Russian separatists) and Ukraine. It began in February 2014, following the Ukrainian Revolution of Dignity, and initially centred on the international recognition of Crimea and the Donbas as part of Ukraine. The Russian annexation of Crimea (2014) and the war in Donbas (2014–present) between Ukraine and Russian-backed separatists, as well as maritime incidents, cyberwarfare, and political tensions, marked the first eight years of the conflict. Following a Russian military build-up on the Russia–Ukraine border beginning in late 2021, the conflict escalated substantially on February 24, 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. There was a major Russian military build-up around Ukraine's borders in 2021 and early 2022 NATO accused Russia of plotting an invasion, which the Russian government rejected. Russian President Vladimir Putin has described NATO's expansion as a threat to his country and has urged that Ukraine be prohibited from joining the military alliance. He also espoused Russian nationalist sentiments, questioned Ukraine's right to exist, and incorrectly claimed that Ukraine was formed by Soviet Russia. Russia recognised the two self-proclaimed separatist governments in the Donbas on February 21, 2022, and openly sent soldiers into the region Russia attacked Ukraine three days later Russia has been widely denounced for its actions in post-revolutionary Ukraine, with many accusing it of breaking international law and infringing on Ukrainian sovereignty Many countries imposed economic penalties on Russia, Russian persons, or Russian companies, particularly after the invasion of 2022.

• Taras Shapravskyi, deputy mayor of Bucha, said 50 of some 300 bodies found were the victims of extra-judicial killings carried out by the Russians. The Kremlin has rejected those accusations

• Some people were shot in the head and had their hands bound, and some bodies showed signs of torture, rape and burning, he said

• Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said civilians were “shot with joined hands,” and told German newspaper Bild that “what happened in Bucha and other suburbs of Kyiv can only be described as genocide ”