Ukraine president says worse atrocities may yet be found elsewhere as satellite images show mass grave near church in Bucha
Russia-Ukraine war: latest updatesWhat we know on day 40 of the invasion
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said that Russia’s public image is now one of torture and execution after the retreat of Russian forces in the town of Bucha led to the discovery of the killing of hundreds of civilians.
Calling Russian soldiers “murderers”, “butchers” and “rapists”, Zelenskiy said late on Sunday: “your culture and human appearance perished together with the Ukrainian men and women”. He warned that “even worse things” may be found in other occupied regions.
Work is under way to bring the town of Bucha “back to life”, said Zelenskiy, with critical infrastructure such as power, water and hospital care being restored.
The Ukrainian military claimed in its operational report on Monday morning that Russia has launched a “hidden mobilisation” of around 60,000 soldiers to replenish units lost in Ukraine.
Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba urged the international criminal court and international organisations to come to the region to collect evidence of Russian war crimes. Speaking on Times Radio on Sunday, he said Bucha was a “deliberate massacre”. Describing Russia as “worse than Isis”, he said Russian forces were guilty of murder, torture, rape and looting. He also urged G7 countries to impose “devastating” sanctions immediately.
The capture of Mariupol is a “key objective” of the Russian invasion, UK’s ministry of defence said as heavy fighting continues in the southeastern city.