Проблематика геноциду Росії щодо українців в українських засобах масової інформації (2022–2024)

The papper clarified the coverage by the Ukrainian mass media (television, radio and print media) of the issue of Russia's genocide against Ukrainians in the conditions of a full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war (2022–2024). The term «genocide» to characterize the intentions and actions of the Russian occupiers in Ukraine was established in the Ukrainian mass media in March-April 2022, after the liberation of Kyiv region from Russian occupation and the discovery of mass casualties of Russian troops in the cities of Bucha, Irpin, Gostomel, Borodianka. 

Based on an analysis of numerous messages and materials from Ukrainian media, selected according to criteria of relevance, the study identifies four discursive directions in the use of the concept of "genocide" within Ukrainian mass media. First, the term "genocide" was frequently used to describe the actions of Russian occupiers against Ukrainians, particularly in the context of war and war crimes. Second, Ukrainian media broadcast assessments from Ukrainian and foreign politicians, organizations, governments, and parliaments regarding Russia's genocide against Ukrainians. Third, when discussing Russia’s genocide against Ukrainians, the media often relied on the views of both domestic and international experts, including lawyers, political scientists, and historians, thus regularly publishing expert articles and interviews with prominent researchers. Fourth, significant attention was devoted to legal proceedings related to the condemnation of Russia's actions as genocide, with a particular focus on the proceedings of the UN International Court of Justice in The Hague, which began hearings on Ukraine's genocide claim against Russia in early March 2022. In general, the majority of Ukrainian mass media portrayed Russia's genocide against Ukrainians as an established fact, drawing on assessments from deontic authorities (politicians and political organizations) and epistemic authorities (experts and scholars).