Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is now calling Russia’s war crimes a genocide after finding more than 400 civilians shot dead in Bucha, a small town north-west of Kyiv. Bodies were scattered in the streets, many with their hands tied behind their back. Gunshot wounds show that they were shot at close range.

Russia claims no one was harmed, and that troops withdrew from the city completely by March 30, saying the bodies were intentionally set up to make it look like Russian troops opened fire on Ukrainians inhabiting Bucha. 

According to ABC News, “Analysis of videos and satellite imagery confirms some of the bodies seen lying in the streets of Bucha were there as early as March 19, when the town was still occupied by Russian forces.” 

After news of the murders in Bucha spread across the globe, all eyes were on other countries, waiting to see how leaders would react and define the murders in Ukraine.

In terms of politics, using the word genocide is a very serious statement. The United Nations was formed after World War II in 1945, vowing to never let horrific acts like the Holocaust happen again. 

According to the U.N. website, “Genocide was first recognized as a crime under international law in 1946 by the United Nations General Assembly.” It is important to note that the Holocaust was not the first or most deadly genocide in our history. However, it is the most infamous, and can be attributed to the creation of many anti-genocide groups, including the U.N. 

Officially calling these murders in Bucha a genocide means that there is a responsibility of all 51 nations included in the U.N. to take action against Russia, and the start of a much bigger war. Although that is the term President Volodymyr Zelenskyy used, there is much more evidence needed to actually define the murders as genocide. There must be proof that Russia had a motive to target and put an end to Ukraine. 

The U.S. and other allies of Ukraine are forced to tread carefully with the discussion of possible genocide. President Biden has addressed the murders in Bucha, but when directly asked if he believes it is a genocide, Biden responded, “No, I think it is a war crime.” His response about Vladimir Putin; “This warrants him – he is a war criminal… He should be held accountable.” Biden is in support of a war crimes trial against Putin. The US is also seeking more sanctions to place on Russia due to these recent events.