Ukraine sued Russia at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in February 2022, saying Russia falsely accused it of genocide in Donbas to justify its invasion. The court narrowed the case in 2024 to Ukraine’s request for a declaration that it committed no genocide, and in December 2025 it admitted Russia’s counter-claims alleging genocide by Ukraine. Ukraine’s Reply is due on December 7, 2026, and Russia’s Rejoinder on December 7, 2027.
Latest development Dec 5, 2025
On December 5, 2025, the International Court of Justice found Russia’s counter-claims admissible by 11 votes to four. It will examine Russia’s allegations that Ukraine committed genocide alongside Ukraine’s request for a declaration that it did not. The court fixed December 7, 2026, for Ukraine’s Reply and December 7, 2027, for Russia’s Rejoinder.
Why it matters
The International Court of Justice will rule on Russia’s allegation that Ukraine committed genocide in eastern Ukraine, the claim Russia cited when it invaded in 2022. It will also decide whether to grant Ukraine’s request for a declaration that it did not commit genocide.
Background
Ukraine filed its application on February 26, 2022, two days after Russia’s full-scale invasion, under Article IX of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. It says Russia falsely claimed that Ukraine was committing genocide in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions. Russia used that claim to justify its recognition of two separatist “republics” and its military operation. Russia did not appear at the hearing on provisional measures. On March 16, 2022, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Russia, by 13 votes to two, to suspend immediately the military operations it began on February 24, 2022.
In June 2023, the court admitted declarations of intervention from 32 states, including the Netherlands, on the interpretation of the Convention. On February 2, 2024, it upheld one of Russia’s six preliminary objections. It held that even if Russia’s recognition of the “republics” and its use of force were unlawful, they would not breach the Convention. Those claims therefore fall outside its jurisdiction. Ukraine’s request for a declaration that there is no credible evidence that it committed genocide in eastern Ukraine went forward to the merits.
Russia filed its Counter-Memorial on November 18, 2024, with counter-claims alleging that Ukraine committed and incited genocide and failed to prevent and punish it. Ukraine objected to their admissibility. On December 5, 2025, the court found the counter-claims admissible by 11 votes to four and authorized a Reply from Ukraine and a Rejoinder from Russia. Ukraine’s Reply is due on December 7, 2026, and Russia’s Rejoinder on December 7, 2027.
Timeline 8 events
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Scheduled orderUkraine’s Reply on the merits and counter-claims falls due
The court fixed this time-limit in its order of December 5, 2025. Russia’s Rejoinder is due on December 7, 2027.
Ukrinform: UN ICJ accepts Russia’s counterclaim against Ukraine
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JudgmentCourt admits Russia’s counter-claims by 11 votes to four
The court rejected Ukraine’s objections to admissibility and fixed time-limits for a Reply and a Rejoinder.
International Court of Justice: Press release, December 8, 2025Opinio Juris: ICJ’s recent order in Ukraine v. Russia genocide case
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OrderCourt invites the parties’ views on Russia’s counter-claims
The court set May 20, 2025, for Ukraine and September 22, 2025, for Russia to address the admissibility of the counter-claims.
Interfax-Ukraine: ICJ invites Kyiv, Moscow to submit views on counter-claims
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FilingRussia files its Counter-Memorial with counter-claims against Ukraine
Russia filed after two extensions of its time-limit and relied on Article 80 of the Rules of Court for its counter-claims.
Interfax-Ukraine: ICJ invites Kyiv, Moscow to submit views on counter-claimsInternational Court of Justice: Order of September 9, 2024, extending the time-limit for the Counter-Memorial (via italaw)
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JudgmentCourt limits Ukraine’s case to a declaration on genocide in Donbas
The court upheld one of Russia’s six objections, removing Ukraine’s claims about Russia’s use of force and its recognition of the separatist “republics.”
Lawfare: ICJ issues preliminary objections judgmentKharkiv Human Rights Protection Group: Russia must answer over Ukraine’s genocide case
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HearingThirty-two intervening states address the court on Russia’s objections
The Netherlands, represented by its Legal Adviser René Lefeber, was among the 32 states heard at the hearings on Russia’s preliminary objections.
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JudgmentCourt orders Russia to suspend its military operations in Ukraine
The court ruled by 13 votes to two after a hearing that Russia did not attend. Both parties were told unanimously not to aggravate the dispute.
Wikipedia: Ukraine v. Russian Federation (2022)Law360: World Court rules for Ukraine over Russian invasion
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FilingUkraine files a Genocide Convention case against Russia
Ukraine asked the International Court of Justice to find that Russia’s accusation of genocide in Donbas could not justify its invasion, and requested provisional measures.
International Court of Justice: case pageWikipedia: Ukraine v. Russian Federation (2022)