Removal of cultural monuments from Crimea by Russian forces is element of genocide - Vyatrovych

This was stated by Deputy Volodymyr Vyatrovych on Espreso.

"The looting that the Russians have carried out in Ukraine for centuries continues and intensifies. This is not just done with the desire to obtain material benefit. For me, this is also an element of genocide, because it is the deprivation of Ukraine of its cultural heritage. This is absolutely commensurate with the physical destruction of Ukrainian museums, monuments, burning of Ukrainian books," he emphasized.

According to Volodymyr Vyatrovych, the occupiers aim to show that there was no Ukraine, Ukrainian history and that this is all a fiction, as well as to undermine the leading thesis of Russian propaganda that in reality Ukrainians do not exist and we are one nation with Russians. He noted that this opinion is the basis of genocide.

"Therefore, these actions of Russia are absolutely not accidental and are definitely aimed not only at material enrichment. In fact, this is an attempt to destroy Ukrainian cultural heritage and Ukrainians as a separate nation," the Deputy noted.