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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken strongly condemned Russia on Sunday, accusing it of atrocities in Ukraine, as the world saw the first sight of dead Ukrainian bodies dumped in the streets of Bucha, a city just a few kilometers from Kiev.
The bodies were found after Russian forces withdrew from the area.
“You can not help but feel pain“, Said the highest American diplomat for the CNN television network. “We can not normalize this“, He added.
Mr Blinken said the United States would look closely to document war crimes committed by Russia across Ukraine, adding that the perpetrators of the killings should be held accountable. Kiev already claims to have regained control of the north-central region around the capital.
Also today (Sunday) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Russia of genocide in his country, while Western leaders condemned images showing dead Ukrainian civilians.
“This is actually genocide. Elimination of the whole nation and people“Mr. Zelenskiy said on the American television network CBS.
“We are citizens of Ukraine and do not want to submit to the policy of the Russian Federation. This is why we are being destroyed and exterminated“, He added.
Mr Zelenskiy’s statements came a day after Ukrainian forces moved to the city of Bucha near Kiev and found what officials and witnesses said were civilian bodies killed by Russian military forces.
The Russian Defense Ministry denied the allegations, saying the footage and photos showing the dead bodies in Bucha were another provocation from Kiev.
Human Rights Watch said Sunday it had documented several cases of Russian military forces violating martial law in Russian-controlled regions of Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Kiev.
Asked if Russian President Vladimir Putin would be held accountable, Mr Zelenskiy said:
“I think that all military commanders, all those who have given instructions and orders should be adequately punishedHe said.
Asked what an adequate sentence would be, he added: “When I find people with their hands tied behind their backs and beheaded .. I do not know which law or what term of imprisonment would be adequate for such a thing“.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called the Buca killings an unprecedented brutality in Europe that has not been seen for decades.
The mayor of Buca announced on Saturday that during the month-long attack, the Russian army had killed 300 inhabitants. The victims were in a mass grave dumped in the street.
Russia has previously denied targeting civilians and dismissed allegations of war crimes in what it calls a special military operation.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities announced on Saturday that its forces had taken control of all areas around the capital, regaining full control of the region for the first time since Russia launched the attack on February 24.
US and Western defense and intelligence officials have warned that Moscow is repositioning its forces to focus on the eastern Donbas region. According to the Reuters news agency, Ukraine has recaptured over 30 towns and villages around Kiev.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia has left behind in Kiev and its suburbs a complete destruction and a territory full of mines. His spokesman says mass graves have also been found.
“It is really difficult to describe what was found in the liberated territories, such as Buça, Hostomel and Irpin. Sad sight. We found mass graves filled with civilians; people with their hands and feet tied, and executed with a bullet to the head. They were clearly executed civilians… “says Sergii Nykyforov, spokesman for the Ukrainian president.
Ukrainian officials are sensitizing the international community to the actions of Russian forces.
“We also had a meeting with (French President) Macron. We were four members of parliament and the mayor of Melitopol, who was captured and held hostage for six days, until he was exchanged with nine Russian soldiers. He recounted his experience, how he was treated and how he was forced to resign. “I think it was important for the French president to hear it not through Zoom, but directly from someone who was there just two days ago.”says Ukrainian lawmaker Alona Shkrum.
The Ukrainian chief negotiator has signaled, however, that there is still room for talks between Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and Russian President Putin, after negotiators agreed on an initial text of the agreement during talks in Istanbul.
Meanwhile, residents in the besieged city of Mariupol continued to wait on Sunday for the International Committee of the Red Cross convoy which brings aid and offers evacuation opportunities for them. According to the Associated Press news agency, about 100 thousand people have been trapped in the city surrounded by Russian forces for more than a month./ VOA
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