Michelle Bachelet said the UN is “horrified” by the images of the massacre perpetrated by Russian soldiers in Bucha

The UN human rights chief expressed his horror on Monday at the images of dead bodies in the Ukrainian city of Bucha following a Russian withdrawal and warned of possible war crimes.

“I am horrified by the images of civilians lying dead in the streets and in makeshift graves in the Ukrainian city of Bucha,” Michelle Bachelet said in a statement.

“Reports emerging from this and other areas raise serious and disturbing questions about possible war crimes, serious violations of international humanitarian law and serious violations of international human rights law,” he said.

Ukrainian authorities in Bucha said they were forced to dig mass graves to bury the dead piling up in the streets, including some with their hands tied, in scenes that shocked the whole world more than a month after the Russian invasion.

The scale of the killings is still being rebuilt, but Ukrainian Attorney General Iryna Venediktova said that the bodies of 410 civilians have been recovered so far.

The UN human rights office said on Sunday that its staff on the ground had not yet been able to verify the numbers or details reported by Ukrainian officials.

“It is essential that all bodies are exhumed and identified so that the victims' families can be informed and the exact causes of death established,” Bachelet said.

“Every measure must be taken to preserve evidence,” he added.

“It is vital that every effort be made to ensure that there are independent and effective investigations into what happened in Bucha to ensure truth, justice and accountability, as well as reparation and reparation for victims and their families.”

Developing note...

(with information from AFP)

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