China calls for investigation of civilian deaths in Bucha

Beijing: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Wednesday that the mass civilian deaths in the Ukrainian town of Bucha have to be investigated and all accusations should be supported by evidence.

“The truth and circumstances of what transpired [in Bucha] must be discovered and the humanitarian issues must not be politicized,” Zhao said at a briefing, adding that “any accusations must be based on facts and all sides must show temperance and avoid unfounded accusations until the investigation is over.”

Over the weekend, reports emerged of mass civilian killings in Bucha, a town near Kyiv controlled by Russian forces until recently. Kyiv blamed the civilian deaths on the departed Russian forces.