According to the Ukrainian Prosecutor General, Irina Venediktova, 410 civilian bodies were found around the capital, Kyiv. Many of these bodies were scattered in the streets of Bucha after the Russian army withdrew from the area.
The United Nations said, on Sunday, that the discovery of mass graves in the city itself raised serious questions about possible war crimes.
“I am deeply shocked by the images of civilians killed in Bucha,” said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Temporary grave in Bucha, Ukraine – Photo: REUTERS / Zohra Bensemra
Watch AFP reporters At least 20 dead bodies in only one streetAll of them wear civilian clothes. On Saturday, Ukrainian officials said about 280 people had been buried in mass graves.
“They were all shot,” commented the mayor of Bucha, Anatoly Fedoruk.
Human Rights Watch, a leading human rights organization, issued a statement saying it had found “several cases of Russian military forces violating the laws of war” on Russian-controlled Ukrainian territory.
Bucha is located 60 km from the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv – Photo: Arte g1
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of committing genocide in his country.
“This is actually genocide,” Zelensky told CBS’ “Face the Nation.” “The elimination of an entire nation and people.”
Zelensky’s comments came a day after Ukrainian forces recaptured the town of Bucha.
Zelensky stated, “We are citizens of Ukraine and do not want to submit to the policy of the Russian Federation. This is the reason for our destruction and extermination.”
A man is pictured next to a grave in Bucha, Ukraine (Photo: REUTERS/Mikhail Balenchak)
Asked if Russian President Vladimir Putin would be held accountable, Zelensky said others shared the blame.
“I think that all the military commanders and all those who gave instructions and orders should be punished as they should,” he said.
Ukrainian soldiers look at a wreck in Bucha, near Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. (Photo: Reuters/Zohra Bensemra)
On Sunday, the Russian Defense Ministry denied that its forces had killed civilians in Bucha. It said in a statement that all Russian units left the city on March 30, and that the pictures and photos showing the dead bodies were “another provocation.”
Russia says its “special military operation” is aimed at weakening the Ukrainian army and targets military facilities, not civilians.
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