Here are the latest developments in the war in Ukraine:
– Calls for war crimes trial –
The discovery of bodies scattered on the streets of the Ukrainian town of Bucha after the withdrawal of Russian forces sparks global outrage.
US President Joe Biden calls for a war crimes trial and more sanctions on Russia.
The UN’s human rights chief Michelle Bachelet also says the images of people in civilian clothing, some of whom appear to have been bound by their hands and feet before being shot, suggests “possible war crimes”, as does German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron.
On a visit to the town, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky labels the killings “genocide”, a term echoed by the prime minister of Poland.
– Hundreds of bodies –
AFP saw at least 20 bodies strewn along a single street in Bucha.
Ukrainian prosecutor general Iryna Venediktova says 410 civilian bodies were recovered from areas around Kyiv recently retaken from Russian forces.
Bucha’s mayor Anatoly Fedoruk says 280 bodies were buried in mass graves during the fighting.
– Russian denial –
The Kremlin denies Russian forces killed civilians, claiming that the images of dead bodies in Bucha are “fakes” produced by “Ukrainian radicals.”
“We categorically reject all allegations,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says.
Moscow has called for a special UN Security Council meeting to discuss the situation.
– More EU sanctions –
The EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says the bloc is urgently discussing a new round of sanctions on Russia over the “atrocities” reported in Bucha and other Ukrainian towns that were occupied by Russian forces.
“We stand in full solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people in these sombre hours for the whole world,” he says.
– ‘Not possible’ to cut gas –
Germany warns that cutting off Russian gas supplies to Europe is not a possibility, despite growing pressure on the EU to do so.
“We have to cut all economic relationship to Russia, but at the moment, it’s not possible to cut the gas supplies. We need some time,” German Finance Minister Christian Lindner says.
– Gazprom subsidiary seized –
Germany takes control of Gazprom’s German subsidiary after the Russian gas giant said it is withdrawing from Gazprom Germania.
Berlin says it is “doing what is necessary to ensure security of supplies in Germany.”
– Ambassador expelled –
The former Soviet republic of Lithuania expels the Russian ambassador to Vilnius over what it calls the “horrific massacre” in Bucha and atrocities in other occupied Ukrainian cities. Moscow vows to retaliate.
– Eastern offensive –
After withdrawing from northern Ukraine, Russia steps up its attacks in the east and south.
Seven people are reported killed and 34 wounded in strikes on Ukraine’s second-biggest city Kharkiv, with three more reported killed in the suburb of Dergachi.
In the south, seven people are killed in shelling of the town of Ochakiv on the Black Sea and one person is killed in a strike on the nearby city of Mykolaiv, Ukrainian authorities say.
– Spain seizes yacht –
Spanish police announce the seizure of a mega yacht owned by an oligarch with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The 78-metre-long yacht named Tango was impounded at the Mediterranean port of Palma de Mallorca by Spanish police working with the US.
– Putin hails Orban win –
An increasingly isolated Putin congratulates Hungary’s nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban on winning a fourth term in office.
Putin says he hopes to deepen ties with a rare ally in Europe.
– Over 4.2 million refugees –
More than 4.2 million Ukrainian refugees have fled the country since the Russian invasion, the UN says.
