Following claims of slaughter and rape of people in cities retaken by Russian troops, Europe will put more sanctions against Russia and strengthen its support for Ukraine.
The Following is Horrific
While Russia focused its assault on the nation’s eastern part, Ukrainian soldiers regaining villages and towns near Kyiv reported a slew of alleged human rights violations.
They discovered dead women who had been left nude in the streets and raped, as per the Ukrainian defense department.
“The Russian military did awful things here,” claimed Ukraine’s Acting Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova, as she tweeted a photo of victims found face down with their arms tied and executed in the back of the skull in the town of Motyzhyn.
In the city of Bucha, Russians murdered residents both during their control and their withdrawal, according to Dzhaparova.
Ukraine’s prosecutor general alleges that Russian forces carried out a massacre in the towns around Kyiv: The bodies of at least 410 civilians have been recovered so far since Russian troops retreated.https://t.co/Bzi8b0VhIa
— Cliff Levy (@cliffordlevy) April 4, 2022
Head of the European Union, Ursula von der Leyen, said she was “horrified” by stories of “unimaginable atrocities.” She stated on Twitter an impartial probe is urgently needed. “Those who commit war crimes will face consequences.”
In reaction to the atrocities revealed over the weekend, Europe vowed tougher penalties on Sunday. The European Council’s president, Charles Michel, stated he was “struck by chilling photos of atrocities perpetrated by the army of Russia.”
He wrote, “Further EU sanctions & help are on the coming.”
“We will deliberate on further actions in the circle of allies in the days ahead,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told journalists in Berlin. “President Vladimir Putin and his allies will suffer the repercussions,” he promised.
Poland and the Baltic states already hammered out a new package of sanctions aimed at crippling Russia’s government on Friday. However, EU leaders are split on the scope of additional sanctions, particularly in relation to Russian energy supply.
The EU Responds
According to a Politico report, EU nations agreed to draft and possibly expedite and intensify the next round of sanctions, with German Economy Minister Christian Lindner confirming talks will begin on Monday.
Bucha massacre proves that Russian hatred towards Ukrainians is beyond anything Europe has seen since WWII. The only way to stop this: help Ukraine kick Russians out as soon as possible. Partners know our needs. Tanks, combat aircraft, heavy air defense systems. Provide them NOW. pic.twitter.com/LX5S3KVrwD
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) April 3, 2022
In a speech, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian stressed the greatest possible areas, such as economic stress on Russia, must be “kept and increased” to push the country to halt its conflict with Ukraine.
Human Rights Watch questioned ten Ukrainian people who witnessed crimes involving summary murders in Bucha, approximately 30 kilometers north of Kyiv, and in the Chernihiv area’s village of Staryi Bykiv.
The advocacy organization gave a detailed report of the conversations it conducted.
Hugh Williamson, Europe, and Central Asia head at Human Rights Watch, said, “The cases we recorded amount to terrible, premeditated brutality and violence against Ukrainian citizens.”
“Raping, murder, and other acts of violence against persons in the custody of Russian soldiers should be examined as war crimes,” he stated.
Lyudmyla Denisova, the Ukrainian director for human rights, outlined a series of other examples. Denisova urged the world community to investigate through the United Nations and the Council for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
