THE HAGUE, September 25. /TASS/. Russia was forced to launch its special military operation in Ukraine due to Ukraine escalating hostilities in Donbass, Russia’s Representative Maria Zabolotskaya said on Monday during hearings at the UN International Court of Justice (ICJ).
"Article 51 [of the UN Charter] was used after eight years of the Kiev regime’s attacks on Donbass. Around two million ceasefire violations and tens of thousands of artillery strikes by Ukrainian troops were reported. More than 3,500 civilians were killed and more than 10,000 were wounded, including more than 100 children, in Ukraine's attacks," she said.
"Another thing Ukraine is trying to ignore is the serious escalation in hostilities that took place in Donbass in February 2022. While Ukraine was receiving more and more weapons from NATO member countries, military pressure on Donbass was growing. The situation in Ukraine became very unstable. In a bid to stabilize the situation, Russia approached NATO in December 2021 with a proposal on new security guarantees in Europe that were supposed to ensure peace in Ukraine. But Russia’s proposals were immediately turned down by the United States and its European allies. However, even amid the serious security concerns and worries about Donbass’ future, Russia refrained from acting," Zabolotskaya said.
She recalled that Russia recognized the independence of the Donbass republics and "along with that exercised the right to self-defense" only after the Ukrainian army further aggravated the situation in Donbass. According to Zabolotskaya, Russia launched its special military operation under Article 51 of the UN Charter, which grants the inalienable right to individual and collective self-defense.
She stressed that Ukraine’s allegations that Russia violated international law and its sovereignty "do not fall under the convention on genocide" and Kiev and its Western allies sought to mislead the court.
Last week, the UN International Court of Justice in The Hague began hearings on Ukraine’s lawsuit claiming Russia violated the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. The hearings are devoted to preliminary objections raised by the Russian Federation.
On February 26, 2022, Ukraine filed a lawsuit with the International Court of Justice to initiate proceedings against Russia regarding the interpretation, use and implementation of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. In its lawsuit, Kiev rejects Russia’s claims that genocide has taken place in Donbass, which, among other factors, compelled Moscow to recognize the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics and launch its special military operation. In light of this, Ukraine requested that the court find that Russia has no lawful basis to take action in and against Ukraine.