EU blames Russian authorities for atrocities in Bucha and other towns

"EVROPEISKA PRAVDA" - MONDAY, 4 APRIL 2022, 11:38

The European Union has accused Russian authorities of committing atrocities in territories in the Kyiv region, now liberated but formerly under the control of Russian troops.

This was announced in a statement by EU diplomacy chief Josep Borrell on Monday, made on behalf of the entire European Union, Evropeiska Pravda has reported.

The statement said the EU strongly condemns the atrocities committed by Russian armed forces in a number of occupied Ukrainian towns, which have now been liberated.

"Haunting images of large numbers of civilian deaths and casualties, as well as destruction of civilian infrastructure, show the true face of the brutal war of aggression Russia is waging against Ukraine and its people. The massacres in the town of Bucha and other Ukrainian towns will be inscribed in the list of atrocities committed on European soil.

The Russian authorities are responsible for these atrocities, committed while they had effective control of the area. They are subject to the international law of occupation", the statement said.

The EU is confident that the perpetrators of these war crimes and other serious violations, as well as responsible officials and military leaders, will be held accountable.

"The European Union supports all measures to ensure accountability for human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law in Ukraine by Russian Armed forces", the statement added.

"In particular, we fully support the investigation launched by the ICC Prosecutor into war crimes and crimes against humanity as well as the work of the OHCHR Commission of Inquiry. The EU is assisting the Ukrainian Prosecutor General and Civil Society focused on collection and preservation of the evidence of the war crimes", Borrell said.

As a reminder, on Monday, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki advocated the creation of an international commission to investigate the events in Bucha and other areas of the Kyiv region, which he calls genocide.

French President Emmanuel Macron has advocated stronger sanctions against Russia and restrictions on Russian oil and coal imports after the atrocities in Bucha.

As reported, EU ambassadors will discuss the extension of sanctions against Russia, including the possibility of an embargo on Russian energy resources.