New Delhi: Russia on Thursday said there is evidence that the civilian killings in Ukraine’s Bucha city were due to a “cynical false flag operation perpetrated by Kiev itself”, and demanded that this “evidence” be factored in while seeking justice in the case.
Two days after India at the UN Security Council condemned the killing of civilians in Bucha and backed calls for an independent probe into the massacre that has been blamed on Russia, the Russian Embassy in Delhi released a statement.
Russia said that it stands firmly for bringing to justice those behind the war crime act, but added that the “main challenge is to ensure a genuinely independent and unbiased investigation”. Russia also slammed the “widespread hollow allegations” against it over the killings.
“The heinous attack in Bucha brings back the nightmares of the Nazi crimes during the Second World War. It raised revulsion and condemnation in Russia and India and globally. “Russia firmly stands for bringing to justice those involved in this outrageous war crime act.
“The main challenge is to ensure a genuinely independent and unbiased investigation. Regrettably there have been so far widespread hollow allegations against Moscow while there’s evidence that it was in fact a cynical false flag operation, perpetrated by Kiev itself. It is vitally important to take this evidence into account as we seek justice,” the statement said.
Speaking at a session on Ukraine at the UN Security Council, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, TS Tirumurti on Tuesday said: “The situation in Ukraine has not shown any significant improvement since the Council last discussed the issue. The security situation has only deteriorated, as well as its humanitarian consequences.
“Recent reports of civilian killings in Bucha are deeply disturbing. We unequivocally condemn these killings and support the call for an independent investigation.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has termed the killings in Bucha as “war crimes” and a “genocide”.
Russia has denied involvement in the killing of civilians, including in Bucha. The killing of around 50 civilians in Bucha has drawn worldwide condemnation.
