A Ukrainian soldiers walks past dead bodies on a destroyed road in Bucha, Kyiv region. ©Mykhaylo Palinchak / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images
Russia and Ukraine trade accusations over Bucha civilian deaths (TIMELINE) After footage of dead civilians in the Ukrainian city of Bucha emerged, the West immediately pointed the finger at Moscow
RT.com
Ukraine has accused Russian troops of committing war crimes in the city of Bucha. However, Moscow insists that the allegations are baseless and has implied that the Ukrainian government is manipulating the media to smear Russia.
Bucha is a small city of around 35,000 residents, located some 10km northwest of the Ukrainian capital Kiev. From the early days of the ongoing Russian military attack, Moscow’s troops have been present in the area, but last week they were ordered to evacuate.
Days after the withdrawal, Kiev accused the Russian military of committing numerous atrocities in Bucha. Moscow has denied the allegations and unsuccessfully tried to call a UN Security Council meeting to discuss what it claims to be an attempt to frame its forces.
Russia’s foreign intelligence service earlier warned that Kiev was working to downplay footage of what appeared to be Ukrainian soldiers torturing Russian prisoners of war. The Russian military had warned that provocations could be staged by the Ukrainian side in order to manipulate public, and political opinion in the West.
Here is a timeline of how the events unfolded.
March 27 Footage of alleged torture of Russian POWs appears March 29 Talks in Istanbul However, no actions appears to have been taken.
March 29 Russia warns of staged videos “mass killings, robbery, damage to social infrastructure,” General Mikhail Mizintsev claimed.
March 31 Mayor of Bucha declares city liberated address , Mayor Anatoly Fedoruk declared his city liberated “from Russian orcs [sic]” and called it a major victory for Ukrainian defenders.April 1 Kiev publicity damage control claimed it had intercepted communications between the governments of Ukraine and Britain discussing the publicity fallout from the alleged torture video.“aware of the violations of international humanitarian law by Kiev” and were willing to help perpetrators remain unaccountable.April 1 Zelensky says Azov “are what they are” interview with Fox News.“They are what they are,” Zelensky remarked in response, before explaining how the formerly volunteer battalion contributed to the defense of Ukraine against Russia and was subsequently integrated into the national military.
April 2 Ukrainian commandos deployed to Bucha said it had deployed its ‘Safari’ commando regiment to Bucha to “clear the territory of saboteurs and Russian troop collaborators,” as well as to “inspect the sites of war crimes committed by Russia.” April 2 Contravening evidence clip published and later deleted by Ukrainian military commander Sergey Korotkih showed Ukrainian troops in Bucha discussing engagement rules. Korotkih, formerly a citizen of Belarus, is an open neo-Nazi who went to Ukraine back in 2014 to fight in the ranks of the notorious Azov Battalion. In Russia, Korotkih is wanted on multiple murder charges.“guys not wearing blue armbands” identifying Ukrainian soldiers. The response was an affirmative “you bet”.
