Use of Force to Prevent Genocide: A Legal Struggle between Ukraine and Russia in the International Court of Justice

Since the annexation of the Crimean peninsula to Russia in 2014, Ukraine has taken various political and legal measures to counter this action. Specifically, it has filed numerous lawsuits against the Russia in various courts, resorting to various legal means of resolving disputes. Two days after Russia's invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, it instituted proceedings against Russia in the International Court of Justice. Ukraine's request before the Court is the subject of the present article: Can the use of force be resorted to prevent or punish the alleged crime of genocide? This question forms the core of the case; in a way, the litigants and the judges of the Court have expressed completely conflicting views in this regard. Of course, there are several other points that may be considered in this case that other articles will address them. However, the Court's answer to the question of the relationship between the use of force to prevent and punish the crime of genocide is a priority and can be determinative in the course of this case.