Russia planned genocide of Ukrainians long before full-scale invasion - intel chief Budanov

This was announced by the Chief of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov at the forum “Genocidal Practices of the Russian Federation in Ukraine: from the Holodomor to the Russian-Ukrainian War”. 

“The genocide of Ukrainians is not only the state policy of the Russian Federation, but also a mandatory public belief, handed down from above,” he said.

Budanov said that the Russians were preparing execution lists, mobile crematoria, and mass burials of Ukrainians.

“The execution lists were supposed to include teachers of the Ukrainian language, literature, history, ATO veterans, journalists, scientists, writers, priests of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and other denominations who supported Ukraine, public and political figures, heads of state and local authorities,” the intelligence chief said.

He also recalled an article by Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in July 2021, in which he once again denied the right of the Ukrainian nation to exist.

“We have seen horrific mass crimes against Ukrainian citizens, the facts of which have become known to the whole world. The atrocities committed by the Russian Armed Forces in Borydianka, Bucha, Hostomel, Izyum, Mariupol and many other Ukrainian cities and towns showed that these identical and synchronized actions were based on clear doctrinal provisions of the Russian genocidal policy of the government and military leadership,” Budanov summarized.

• On November 20, it was reported that since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, about 143 thousand war crimes have been recorded.