UKRAINE BRANDS RUSSIA ‘TERRORIST STATE’
A TOP Ukrainian diplomat called Russia a “terrorist state” as he opened his country’s case against Moscow at the United Nations’ highest court and accused the country of blowing up a major dam in southern Ukraine.
Anton Korynevych was addressing judges at the International Court of Justice yesterday in a case brought by Kyiv linked to the 2014 annexation of Crimea and arming of rebels in eastern Ukraine in the years before Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Ukraine wants the world court to order Moscow to pay reparations for attacks in the regions, including for the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 that was shot down by Russia-backed rebels on July 17, 2014, killing all 298 passengers and crew.
Mr Korynevych said that with Moscow unable to beat Ukraine on the battlefield, “it targets civilian infrastructure to try to freeze us into submission”.
He said: “Earlier today, just today ... Russia blew up a major dam located in Nova Kakhovka, causing significant civilians evacuations, harsh ecological damages and threatening the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Russia’s actions are the actions of a terrorist state, an aggressor.”
Four days of hearings in the court’s ornate, wood-panelled Great Hall of Justice are opening against a backdrop of Europe’s deadliest conflict since the Second World War.
Ukraine and Russia are trading accusations of blame for the damage to the Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric power station, which are in a part of Ukraine Moscow controls.
Meanwhile, in The Hague, lawyers for Kyiv were presenting legal arguments to support their case yesterday, followed by Russia tomorrow. Each side has another opportunity next week to present evidence. Judges are expected to take months to issue a judgment.
“The Russian Federation has contempt for international law,” Mr Korynevych said.”
The case is one of several legal proceedings against Russia linked to Ukraine. In a separate case brought by Ukraine in the immediate aftermath of Russia’s illegal invasion, the world court issued a preliminary order calling on Russia to stop hostilities - a legally binding ruling Moscow ignored.