Russia’s despicable attacks against innocent civilians in Irpin and Bucha are yet more evidence that Putin and his army are committing war crimes in Ukraine. 1/4
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) April 3, 2022
French President Emmanuel Macron this morning accused the Russians of killing civilians in the Ukrainian town of Bocha and called for further sanctions on Moscow. The German Bild reports that Germany decided on the expulsions of many Russian diplomats, a day after the massacre was announced.
Joseph Burrell, EU foreign policy chief: “The EU strongly condemns the atrocities perpetrated by Russian forces in a number of occupied Ukrainian cities. Haunting images of large numbers of civilian casualties, as well as destruction of civilian infrastructure, mirrors “The true face of Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine and its people. The massacres in the town of Bocha and other Ukrainian cities will be on the list of atrocities committed on European soil.” He said the Russian authorities were “responsible for these atrocities, which were carried out while they had control of the region”.
European Council chief Charles Michel said he was “shocked by the horrific images taken by the Russian military”. He added that more EU sanctions are expected soon. At the same time, the Financial Times reported this morning that EU countries are promoting another package of sanctions on Russia, following photos of the massacre from Bocha and Irpin.
European Commission President Ursula von der Lane said she was “shocked by reports of indescribable atrocities in the regions from which Russia withdrew”. She added that an independent investigation was urgently needed, announcing that “perpetrators of war crimes will be held responsible” for this. Germany’s defense minister Christine Lambrecht said the EU “must discuss banning gas imports from Russia.
Terrible and horrific images reach us from the #Ukraine. Shot civilians, including women, children and the elderly, in #Bucha, which was controlled by the Russian military until a few days ago. 1/2
— Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) April 3, 2022
The Ukrainian ambassador to Australia did not content himself this morning with a call for an inquiry or statements regarding the tightening of sanctions on Russia, saying it was time to do even more. He added and warned not to rush and rejoice at the withdrawal of Russian forces from the capital Kyiv, and this is not the end of the war in this area. “Now they are reorganizing. They are making an operational break and I am sure they will carry out another attack, so we need the support of the free world to help us fight,” said Ambassador Vasyl Miroshnichenko.
Russia rejects allegations: “US and NATO provocation”
The UN Security Council will discuss the war with Ukraine tomorrow, and Russia has asked it to convene today to discuss what it calls a “provocation of Ukrainian radicals.” The dead citizens of Bocha were “invited” by the United States, as part of a conspiracy aimed at blaming Russia. Another claim made in Russia since yesterday is that it is Ukraine that is responsible for the murder of hundreds of citizens, after it turned out that they support Russia.
“Who are the masters of provocation? The United States and NATO, of course,” said Moscow Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. She added that the West’s response from the photos of the dead civilians suggests that the story was “part of a plan to tarnish Russia’s reputation.” She said, “In this case it seemed that the things said about Russia immediately after the material appeared left no room for doubt as to who commissioned this story.”
Zlansky: Even worse things may be revealed in other places
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zalansky said tonight that Russia’s public image now is that of a country that commits torture and executions. He called the Russian soldiers “murderers,” “butchers,” and “rapists.” “Russian culture and humanity have perished along with Ukrainian men and women,” he said. Zalansky warned that “even worse things” might be revealed in other occupied territories that have not yet been liberated from Russian forces.
Zalansky said he was expecting a UN Security Council meeting to discuss the atrocities, and attacked Western countries for a “history of reconciliation” with Russia, arguing that Ukraine should have been a member of NATO 14 years ago. He invited the French president and former German chancellor Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel visit Bocha, “to see what their waiver policy has led to.” He urged Ukraine’s allies to do more than just increase sanctions.
Here is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s pre-taped speech at the #Grammysintroducing a performance for Ukraine from John Legend: “Our musicians wear body armor instead of tuxedos. They sing to the wounded in hospitals.” https://t.co/rjX2S54hkr pic.twitter.com/43fcZTrjQK
— Variety (@Variety) April 4, 2022
In Ukraine, charges of war crimes are already being formulated, and in one of them it will be alleged that Russian soldiers used children as “human shields”. The Prosecutor General of Ukraine collects allegations regarding the use of Russian soldiers by local children to prevent fire during the withdrawal of forces from the cities near the capital of Ukraine and elsewhere. According to the claim, children were placed in front of tanks in the village of Novi Bikiv, close to the city of Chernigov. Despite this, legal experts tell the British Guardian that the prosecution of Putin or other Russian leaders will face obstacles and may take years, and probably will not stop the next atrocity in this war.
Elizabeth Jasco, a member of the Ukrainian parliament, warned of similar scenes and other massacres across Ukraine “if the West does not act to arrest Putin.” She said a strike in Bocha was destroyed and said: “Seeing it and knowing what’s going on there and losing quite a few people I already knew in this war, it’s destructive and something you can not adapt to. If the world does not act decisively we will continue to see these atrocities and victims. We know That could also happen in Mariupol. ”
Meanwhile, tonight the American satellite agency Maxar published pictures from the area of the local church in Bocha, where a 14-meter-long mass grave is seen. Maksar claims that the first signs of the excavation of the tomb were already seen on March 10.