On 31 January 2024, the International Court of Justice of the UN delivered its judgment on the merits of Ukraine’s case against the Russian Federation under the International Convention International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. 

The Court concluded that Russia violated both treaties.

This is the first time in its history that the International Court of Justice has reached a final judgment on Russia’s violations of international law.

The case, initiated by Ukraine, documented the campaign of terrorism suffered by the Ukrainian people beginning in 2014. Russian-controlled individuals and groups attacked Ukrainians, shelled civilian areas and bombed peaceful cities. Ukrainians were targeted in Volnovakha, Mariupol, Kramatorsk, Avdiivka, Kharkiv and Odesa. Furthermore, Russia has been conducting a campaign aimed at the cultural destruction of ethnic groups of Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars in the temporarily occupied Crimea since 2014.

The judgment of the International Court of Justice leaves no doubt that the Russian Federation is in violation of international law.

Ukraine remains committed to pursuing justice and accountability for all of Russia’s illegal acts, including the full-scale invasion Russia launched in 2022.