Prime Minister Boris Johnson has today accused Vladimir Putin of committing war crimes in Ukraine after attacking civilian targets and a Holocaust memorial.
Mr Johnson said at Prime Minister’s Questions earlier today that what we have seen from Putin’s regime in his view “already fully qualifies as a war crime.”
No 10 later confirmed that it believed the attack on the Kyiv Holocaust memorial at Babyn Yar was a war crime and that they were likely being committed “almost hourly” in Ukraine.
A Downing Street spokesperson said:
“Obviously, formally it will be for a criminal court to make that ruling but I think no one can be in any doubt that what we’re seeing daily, almost hourly now, are horrific acts that would certainly appear to be war crimes.”
This is the first time that Downing Street has explicitly accused Russia of war crimes during the conflict.
The Prime Minister also said further sanctions against Russia were needed following his call with Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian President this morning.
Ukraine’s Ambassador to Britain, Vadym Prystaiko, received a standing ovation during the Prime Minister’s Questions session in the House of Commons today. MPs from all parties applauded him as he watched proceedings from the public gallery.
Commons speaker Lindsay Hoyle said:
“We generally do not allow applause in this chamber but on this occasion the House quite rightly wants to demonstrate our respect and support for your country and its people in the most difficult of times.”
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