Russian execution lists targeted Ukrainian leaders, educators
General Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR), reported that the Russian authorities prepared "execution lists" in the event of the occupation of Ukraine. These lists included teachers, Donbas war veterans, journalists, and clergy.
During Friday's discussion titled "Genocidal practices of Russia in Ukraine: From Holodomor to Russian-Ukrainian War" Budanov shared details of these plans. According to the head of Ukraine’s intelligence, the "death lists" encompassed various professional groups, including members of the intelligentsia and military personnel.
The execution lists were to include teachers of the Ukrainian language, literature, history, ATO veterans, journalists, scholars, writers, priests of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and other denominations who supported Ukraine, public and political figures, heads of state and self-government bodies, according to the head of HUR. These preparations were carried out purposefully long before the full-scale invasion began.
The General emphasized, "We have seen horrific mass crimes against Ukrainian citizens, the facts of which have become known to the whole world." He highlighted that "The atrocities committed by the Russian Armed Forces in Borodianka, Bucha, Hostomel, Izium, Mariupol, and many other Ukrainian cities and towns showed that these identical and synchronized actions were based on clear doctrinal provisions of the Russian genocidal policy of the government and military leadership."
Russians aimed to eliminate Ukrainian intelligentsia and military leadership
Budanov also disclosed that before the full-scale invasion, Russian military received instructions regarding preferred locations for mass graves, indicating the planned nature of their actions towards Ukraine.
Recall that as early as February 2022, the German newspaper "Bild" reported on Vladimir Putin's plans in the event of an invasion of Ukraine. The revealed scenarios involved dismantling the resistance movement and establishing "camps" for Ukrainians opposing the occupation. At the time, the Kremlin dismissed these reports as "fiction and falsehood."
