It has been more than a month since Russia invaded Ukraine in order to demilitarise the Zekenskyy government. However, neither Russia nor Ukraine has been able to win the war. As a result, Ukraine's common civilians are being subjected to violence and killings. The Russia-Ukraine war has also been impacting hard on the global economy, especially in terms of gas and fuels. With Russia intensifying its attack on Ukraine, Moscow has been accused of the heinous war crimes of Ukrainian Genocide in the form of the Bucha Massacre. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had also called out Russia and slammed Putin's army for the Bucha Massacre.
Now, those who are wondering what is Bucha massacre and why Russia has been accused of the Ukrainian Genocide can read further:
What is the Bucha massacre?
Horrific and disturbing pictures and videos surfaced on social media showing multiple dead bodies suggesting mass killings of civilians in the Ukrainian town of Bucha, in the suburbs of Kyiv. In the Bacha massacre viral photos, dead bodies' hands were seen tied with ropes with their heads shot down and the bodies were left on streets and roads. Ukrainian officials and witnesses claimed that withdrawing Russian troops from the suburban areas of Kyiv had killed at least 300 civilians in the Bucha massacre. Furthermore, Ukrainian authorities claimed that scores of slain civilians were found on the streets of Kyiv’s suburbs of Bucha, Hostomel, and Irpin after the departure of Russian forces. They had alleged that some of the victims were shot in the head and had their hands bound.
Ukraine's President Zelenskyy also called out Russia for the Bucha massacre and the Ukrainian Genocide. Zelenskyy was quoted by a local media saying that the mothers of the Russian troops should see the gruesome images and ponder upon the 'ba*****ds' they have raised. 'Murderers, looters, butchers,' he said while describing the forces.
Russia's response to the Bucha massacre
As soon as disturbing and horrific pictures of the Bucha massacre went viral on social media, Russia started facing more severe criticism, especially from the West and European Union. Not only this, the European Union also started wondering to impose new sanctions on Russia in the backdrop of the Bucha massacre. Following that, Russia broke its silence on the heinous war-crime and denied the allegations of Ukrainian genocide.
The Russian Ministry of Defence claimed that photos and videos published by Ukraine, accusing Russia of war crimes, are a provocation while noting that not a single local suffered any violent aggression when the city was under the control of the Russian Armed Forces. It also claimed that scenes were staged to distribute photos, and videos via western media.
Russia further claimed that its troops completely exited Bucha on March 30. The city's Mayor Anatoly Fedoruk confirmed this development on March 31, however, he "did not even mention any local residents shot in the streets with their hands tied," the statement read. "Therefore, it is not surprising that all the so-called "evidence of crimes" in Bucha appeared only on the fourth day when SBU officers and representatives of Ukrainian television arrived in the city," it added.
UN breaks silence on Bucha massacre
The horrific visuals of the Bucha massacre also forced the United Nations to break its silence. Breaking his silence, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday called for an independent investigation into the mass killings of civilians in the Ukrainian town of Bucha. Twitter, the UN chief Antonio Guterres expressed that he was "deeply shocked" by the images of civilians killed in the ill-fated town. Guterres also called for "effective accountability" by those involved in the harrowing atrocity.