Topline
Global outrage against Russia continued to mount on Monday amid mounting allegations of mass executions and atrocities by Russian forces in Ukraine, prompting calls for a probe and fresh sanctions as the Kremlin sought to dismiss the allegations as “provocation” by “Ukrainian radicals”.
Bodies lie in a mass grave in Bucha, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine.
Key Facts
In a video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that his country will begin a probe into the alleged “war crimes” by Russian forces, noting that the bodies of at least 410 civilians have been discovered in Bucha after Russian troops withdrew from the area last week.
German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht on Sunday said the reports of Russian atrocities in Bucha were severe enough for European leaders to consider halting the import of gas from Russia adding that such a crime should not go “unanswered.”
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also denounced the killings on the outskirts of the Ukrainian capital calling them “despicable attacks” and promised to do everything to “starve Putin’s war machine.”
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday told CNN that the images emerging from Bucha were a “punch to the gut” adding that the U.S. believes that Russian forces have committed war crimes and “we’ve been working to document that.”
On Monday, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that he strongly condemns attacks on civilians and said his government will work closely with the international community to discuss possible additional sanctions against Russia.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was “deeply shocked” by the images from Bucha and called for an independent investigation into the alleged massacre to ensure “effective accountability.”
Contra
Russia has dismissed Ukraine’s allegations about the civilian massacre calling it a “provocation” by “Ukrainian radicals.” Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova claimed the footage and images of dead civilians in Bucha were “ordered” by the U.S. as a plot to blame Russia. Zakharova, however, failed to offer any evidence to back her claims. Moscow is also attempting to go on the offensive on the issue at the UN by calling for an emergency security council meeting on Monday to discuss this so-called “provocation.” On Sunday, Dmitry Polyansky, Russia’s UN security council deputy representative tweeted: “In the light of heinous provocation of Ukrainian radicals in Bucha Russia requested a meeting of UN Security Council on Monday April 4.”
Key Background
Ukrainian officials on Sunday said they have discovered the bodies of at least 410 dead civilians in the suburbs outside Kyiv in recent days. The harrowing discovery comes just after Russian troops were forced to withdraw from the area last week after their attempts to capture Kyiv was stalled by stiff resistance. Ukrainian troops managed to completely reclaim the Kyiv region by Saturday, the country’s deputy defense minister said, though Russia has claimed its withdrawal was voluntary as it switches focus to the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine.
Tangent
In a report published on Sunday, Human Rights Watch said it has found evidence of war crimes committed by Russian troops in Ukraine, including rapes and executions. The investigation, however, does not include details about he alleged massacre in Bucha and only focusses on accusations from February 27 to March 14.
Further Reading
Over 400 Dead Civilians Found Near Kyiv As Russia Retreats, Ukraine Says (Forbes)
Zelensky Accuses Russia Of Genocide As Allegations Of Civilian Killings Mount (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2022/04/04/global-leaders-condemn-alleged-civilian-massacre-by-russian-forces-near-kyiv/