(International Observation) "Bucca Town Suspicion" casts a shadow over the conflict between Russia and Ukraine
China News Agency, Moscow, April 4th: "Suspicious Clouds in Bucha Town" casts a shadow over the conflict between Russia and Ukraine
China News Agency reporter Tian Bing
The "Buca Town Incident" intensified.
The Ukrainian side was excited, the Russian side firmly denied it, and the United States and the West threatened to increase sanctions. The Russia-Ukraine negotiation is facing another test.
Buccha, a town under the jurisdiction of Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine, is also the administrative center of Bucchasky District, about 30 kilometers away from Kiev, the capital of Ukraine.
Since the Russian army launched a special military operation in Ukraine, the place has been controlled by the Russian army.
After the withdrawal of the Russian army and the recovery of the Ukrainian side, this small town suddenly became the "eye of the storm" of international public opinion.
Uzbekistan: Publishing a list of video announcements requires international intervention
On April 3, the Ukrainian side released relevant pictures and videos, saying that about 300 local residents were killed, and accused the Russian army of carrying out "massacre atrocities" in the town of Bucha.
The mayor of Bucha town said earlier that more than 280 local residents were killed by Russian troops.
In an interview with British media on the 3rd, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba called on the International Criminal Court and other international organizations to send delegations to Bucya and other towns in Kyiv Oblast as soon as possible to "collect the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Russian army". evidence” and bring criminals to justice.
It is reported that the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a request to the International Criminal Court.
Ukrainian Attorney General Venediktova said on the 3rd that after the Ukrainian side recaptured the Kyiv region from the Russian army, 410 civilian bodies were found, which will be part of an investigation into Russia's alleged war crimes.
She said that the Ukrainian prosecutors entered the towns of Bucha, Irpin and Khostel near Kyiv for the first time on the 3rd, and more time is needed to determine the seriousness of the Russian army's crimes.
The Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Directorate posted on Facebook on the 4th that the soldiers of the 64th Brigade of the Russian Independent Motorized Infantry should be directly responsible for the Bucca incident, and published a list of Russian soldiers.
"All war criminals will be brought to justice and prosecuted for crimes committed against Ukrainian civilians," the bureau noted.
Russia: Ukraine provoked and asked the Security Council to discuss
On April 3, the Russian Ministry of Defense issued a statement rebutting that all the photos and video materials released by Ukraine accusing the Russian army of killing residents in the town of Bucha was "another provocation" and was another video produced by Ukraine for Western media. "work".
The statement cited "evidence" that during the Russian military's control of the town, none of the local residents suffered any violence, and that local residents had free movement and access to mobile communications.
The passage for evacuation from Bucha has not been blocked, and local residents can evacuate northward (including to Belarus) at any time.
On March 30, the day after Russia and Ukraine held face-to-face talks in Turkey, all Russian troops completely withdrew from Bucca.
The head of the town also confirmed in a video message on March 31 that there were no Russian troops in the town, and there was no mention of any local residents being shot dead.
The relevant pictures and videos were released on the 4th day after the Ukrainian security department and Ukrainian TV media arrived in the town, but the bodies in all images still did not harden, no corpse spots, and the blood from the wounds did not coagulate after at least 4 days.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a meeting with UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Griffiths in Moscow on the 4th that provocations like the Bucca incident are a direct threat to international peace and security, and Russia once again demanded that An emergency meeting of the UN Security Council was called on this issue.
"The UK, this month's presidency of the Security Council, failed to confirm to us the possibility of a meeting yesterday, but we will ask it to do its job."
Bastregin, chairman of the Russian Federal Investigative Committee, instructed the committee on the 4th to take measures to expose those involved in "manufacturing false information" and conduct litigation evaluations in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Russian Federation's criminal law.
West: unacceptable, increased sanctions
German Chancellor Scholz said on social media on the 3rd that the photos and videos related to the town of Bucca were "shocking", and that Western countries will introduce new sanctions against Russia in the near future, and will continue to provide military assistance to Ukraine.
He called for a "thorough investigation" into what happened in the town of Buca.
French President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview with French media that in view of the events in the town of Bucha, France will discuss with EU partners new sanctions on Russia and allow restrictions on Russian oil and coal supplies.
According to the US "Washington Post", citing sources, the US government is studying the issue of strengthening sanctions against Russia in the context of the video of the town of Bucha.
Italian Foreign Minister Di Maio said on the 3rd that the Bucca incident would lead to tougher sanctions on Russia, including in the energy sector.
Borrell, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, said on the 4th that the EU will urgently consider the issue of imposing new sanctions on Russia due to the incident in the town of Bucca.
Influence: Russia-Ukraine Negotiations Tested Again
The events in Buqia Town are complicated and confusing, and there are many doubts.
But there is no doubt that as soon as this incident occurs, the anti-Russian sentiment in Ukraine will further rise, and it will be difficult for Russia to "prove its innocence". Sanctions.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on the 3rd that an independent investigation into the incident in the town of Buca must be launched.
“I am deeply shocked by the series of images of civilians being killed in Ukraine. There must be an independent investigation and accountability.”
Russian Presidential Press Secretary Peskov said on the 4th that Russia denies any allegations of involvement in the Bucca town incident and that the issue should be discussed at the international level.
He called on the leaders of the relevant countries not to rush to make statements or baseless allegations about the incident, but to start obtaining information from multiple sources.
Peskov also declined to comment on the impact of the incident on the Russia-Ukraine talks.
Korochenko, editor-in-chief of Russia's "National Defense" magazine, believes that Ukraine hopes that the Bucca town incident will provide the West with an excuse to put pressure on Russia and countries that do not support sanctions against Russia.
"It is clear that Ukraine wants to use this incident to provide the West with additional leverage to exert international pressure on Russia and to try to influence the leadership of countries that do not support harsh sanctions against Russia or refuse to join them."
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zakharova said on the 3rd that Ukraine's accusation of Russia's crimes against civilians in the town of Bucha is nothing more than a provocation aimed at intensifying the conflict and hindering peace talks.
(over)