Russia denies allegation of civilian deaths in Bucha city, orders investigation

Russia’s chief investigator on Monday ordered an official examination of what he called a Ukrainian “provocation” after Kiev accused the Russian military of massacring civilians in the city of Bucha.

Alexander Bastrykin, head of Russia’s Investigative Committee, ordered an investigation to be opened on the basis that Ukraine had spread “deliberately false information” about Russian armed forces in Bucha, the committee said in a statement.

In addition, the Kremlin on Monday denied any allegations related to the killing of civilians in the Ukrainian city of Bucha and said that Ukrainian allegations in the matter should be treated with doubt.

Ukrainian officials said on Sunday they were investigating possible crimes committed by Russian forces after finding hundreds of bodies strewn across cities in the capital Kiev region following the Russian withdrawal from the area.

Speaking to reporters on a conference call, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the facts and chronology of events in Bucha did not support Ukraine’s version of events and urged international leaders not to rush to judgment.

Peskov said Russian diplomats would continue their efforts to convene a UN Security Council meeting to discuss what Moscow called “Ukrainian provocations” in Bucha, although their first effort to organize such a meeting was blocked.

Peskov declined to comment on whether the furor over Bucha would affect peace talks between Moscow and Kiev, which were due to resume via video conference on Monday.

Humanitarian corridor in Mariupol

A humanitarian corridor in the besieged city of Mariupol in southeastern Ukraine will be in operation on Monday, according to a senior Ukrainian official, despite delays and difficulties in keeping the route open for evacuation.

“The route will work for private transport. Fifteen evacuation buses have already left Zaporizhzhia for Mariupol,” said Iryna Vereshchuk, Ukrainian deputy prime minister and minister for reintegration of temporarily occupied territories.

On Sunday, seven buses accompanied by a delegation from the International Committee of the Red Cross arrived in Manhush, Vereshchuk said. The ICRC delegation plans to continue the journey from Manhush to Mariupol along with the buses, she said.

If the convoy accompanied by the ICRC arrives in Mariupol, it will be the first case of an evacuation organized by buses from the bombed city.

“We will also continue to evacuate people from Severodonetsk, Popasna, Lysychansk, Rubizhne and Nyzhnie from the Luhansk region,” Vereshchuk said, referring to communities in eastern Ukraine that have seen intense fighting and suffered heavy shelling.

“Occupants constantly violate the ceasefire and fire at humanitarian convoys in the Luhansk region. The brave police, military and drivers continue to help the local residence to evacuate under the command of the head of the Luhansk regional administration independently.”