President Volodymyr Zelenskiy tells UN, Russian killings are ‘war crimes’ and demands commensurate punishments as US and allies on Wednesday prepare to impose new sanctions on Russia. Ukraine reported fresh attacks in south and east.
Over the past few days, a global outcry erupted over grisly images of what appeared to be intentional killings of civilians in Bucha and other towns before Russian forces withdrew from the outskirts of Kyiv. The evidence has led Western nations to expel scores of Moscow’s diplomats and propose further sanctions.
Workers carry the body of people found dead to a cemetery in Bucha, April 5, 2022/AP
The U.S., in coordination with the European Union and Group of Seven big economies, is expected to roll out more sanctions Wednesday, including a ban on all new investment in Russia, a senior administration official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the upcoming announcement.
Zelenskyy spoke by video on Tuesday to the U.N. Security Council, an impassioned address that called for new sanctions "against Russia must be commensurate with the gravity of the occupiers' war crimes".
Russia denied allegations promptly with Kremlin saying on Tuesday that Western allegations Russian forces committed war crimes by executing civilians in the Ukrainian town of Bucha were a "monstrous forgery" aimed at denigrating the Russian army.
Journalists report next to a mass grave in near the Church of St. Andrew and Pyervozvannoho All Saints, in Bucha, April 5, 2022/AP
Satellite images taken weeks ago show bodies of civilians on a street in the town, a private U.S. company said, undercutting Russia's claims that Ukrainian forces caused the deaths or that the scene was staged.
"The images and reports emerging of atrocities committed against civilians in Bucha and other regions of Ukraine is abhorrent and reprehensible, and New Zealand continues to respond to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s mindless acts of aggression," Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said in a statement.
U.S. chipmaker Intel Corp said on Tuesday it had suspended business operations in Russia, joining a slew of companies to exit the country.
Heavy fighting and Russian airstrikes have continued on the port city of Mariupol, according to the latest intelligence update from the UK's Ministry of Defence.
-AP/Reuters/BBC