April 4, 2022 Russia-Ukraine news

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola on Monday called for an “immediate adoption of a new package of forceful sanctions” against Russia, so that Moscow’s decision to invade Ukraine be “the costliest mistake that the Kremlin has ever made.” 

“These coordinated acts of inhumanity cannot remain unanswered, and that we will hold all those responsible to account,” she said. 

Speaking to European lawmakers, Metsola said that the “atrocities committed by the Russian army in Ukraine are horrific. They are disgraceful, and they are shameful.” 

The images of mass graves and murdered civilians “are war crimes, that are perpetrated by war criminals,” the Maltese politician added.   

Mestola, who visited Ukraine last week and gave an address to the Ukrainian Parliament, told European lawmakers that she “was proud to take our message to Kyiv and to show that our parliament stands with them in these dark times.” 

“Ukraine is fighting for our values, in the most impossible conditions, and we have to support them,” she said. 

Following Metsola’s remarks, European lawmakers held a minute’s silence for the victims of Bucha, Irpin and all those who have died in the conflict in Ukraine. 

France will expel “many Russian personnel with diplomatic status,” the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Monday.

The decision concerns Russian diplomatic staff “assigned to France whose activities are contrary to our security interests,” the statement added. 

The ministry statement said the decision is part of steps taken at the European level, adding, “Our first responsibility is always to ensure the safety of French people and Europeans.”

Earlier on Monday, Germany also decided to expel “a substantial number” of Russian diplomats citing their work “as a threat” to refugees in the country.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba gives a press statement with British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss at the British Embassy in Warsaw on Monday.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the “horrors that we have seen in Bucha are just the tip of the iceberg of all the crimes that have been committed by the Russian army” in Ukraine so far.

Kuleba’s comments came Monday at a press conference in Warsaw, during which he added that the “horrors of Bucha, Mariupol, and other places” demand “serious G7 and EU sanctions.

Speaking alongside his British counterpart Liz Truss, Kuleba called for the “most severe” sanctions to be imposed against Russia, while also demanding Russia’s expulsion from the UN Human Rights Council.

“The West continues to fuel [the] Russian war machine with payments for fossil fuels, with trade that is still taking place between Russia and western countries, with financial transactions conducted through Russian banks that have not been disconnected from SWIFT yet,” he said.

Addressing foreign ministers who will attend NATO, EU, and G7 meetings this week, Kuleba said, “If you have doubts, reluctance, or arguments about the need to keep doing business with Russia, go to Bucha first and then talk to me.” 

 He added that Ukraine has “won the battle for Kyiv” but is now preparing for a “new large-scale offensive by Russia in eastern Ukraine.” 

“I can tell you without exaggeration, with great sorrow, that the situation in Mariupol is much worse compared to what we have seen in Bucha and other cities, towns, and villages nearby Kyiv,” the foreign minister continued.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky examines the town of Bucha, Ukraine, on Monday.

If you’re just joining us, here’s what you need to know about the developments in Ukraine so far today.

Zelensky visits Bucha: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the town near the country’s capital after images over the weekend showed civilian bodies found strewn across a street and sparked international outrage.

He addressed the cameras around him briefly, saying that it was “very difficult” for Ukraine to negotiate with Russia following the atrocities carried out by Russian forces in Bucha. He the atrocities carried out in the town typify “the nature of the Russian military” and added that they “treat people worse than animals.”

Growing number of leaders and institutions call the Bucha atrocities a “war crime: The European Union on Monday announced it has established a joint investigation team with Ukraine to probe alleged Russian war crimes and crimes against humanity.

US President Joe Biden Monday called the atrocities committed by Russia and President Vladimir Putin in Bucha, Ukraine, a “war crime” but said it was not a genocide, adding that he is looking into more sanctions on Russia.

French President Emmanuel Macron said it’s “his wish” to see a total block on Russian exports of coal and oil to the European Union “this week,” following the discovery of what he described as “war crimes” in the Ukrainian town of Bucha.

European countries consider more sanctions against Russia but face economic concerns: Germany’s Finance Minister Christian Lindner said Germany supports further sanctions on Russia, but cutting off gas supplies was not possible right now. This comes as one of the country’s top banking officials, Christian Sewing, said Germany would face a “substantial recession” if supplies of Russian gas stop.

Similarly, Belgian Finance Minister Vincent Van Peteghem said Monday that the process of the fifth package of sanctions against Russia should be accelerated. However, he stressed that any proposed sanctions had to have a stronger economic impact on Russia than on the EU, adding that the effect of the war was being felt across Europe.

“We see rising energy prices, we see rising prices at the pump, rising prices in the supermarkets, so we really need to see how we can coordinate that situation,” he said.

Here’s a look at Ukraine’s claimed counteroffensives around Kyiv:

Germany is expelling “substantial number” of officials at the Russian embassy, declaring them as “persona non grata,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said in a statement on Monday.  

The Russian officials “have been working against our freedom and against cohesion of our society here in Germany every day,” Baerbock said.  

The images from the Ukrainian town of Bucha “testify the incredible brutality of the Russian leadership and those following their propaganda, of a will to destruction that is crossing all borders,” the minister also said.  

“We have to fear similar pictures (will emerge) from many other places occupied by the Russian forces,” she continued. 

The United Kingdom has discussed stepping up sanctions against Russia and increasing support for Ukraine, said UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss on Monday, speaking alongside the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Warsaw. 

“It is the responsibility of the UK and our allies, and that’s what Dmytro and I have discussed today, to step up our support for our brave Ukrainian friends,” Truss said in a news conference. “That means more weapons and more sanctions. Putin must lose in Ukraine.”

Truss said she will be working with Britain’s partners and allies to go further on sanctions, noting that the UK is looking into added measures “in banning Russian ships from our ports, in cracking down on Russian banks, in going after new industries for filling Putin’s war chest like gold, and agreeing a clear timetable to eliminate our imports for Russian oil gas and coal.”

Truss added that there should be “no talk of removing sanctions while Putin’s troops are in Ukraine and the threat of Russian aggression looms over Europe.”

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, right, and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba give a press statement at the British Embassy in Warsaw on April 4.

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said that Russia must be suspended from UN Human Rights Council following the “indiscriminate killing of civilians” in Ukraine, adding that “that war crimes have taken place.”

Truss’s comments came Monday while speaking alongside Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Warsaw. 

Truss added that the United Kingdom wants to see “justice done at the International Criminal Court” and said Britain will provide additional funding to the ICC. 

“We will not rest until these criminals have been brought to justice. We are clear that after these appalling crimes, Russia has no place on the Human Rights Council,” said Truss.

Bodies found in the town of Bucha were gathered to be buried on Monday.

Ukrainian officials showed international media the removal of five bodies from a basement in Bucha, a suburb of Kyiv recently retaken by Ukrainian forces.

A CNN team visited the basement and saw the bodies before removal. They were in advanced stage of decomposition.

Five men had been tortured and executed by Russian soldiers, an adviser to the Ukrainian interior minister, Anton Gerashchenko, told CNN on the ground. CNN cannot independently verify Gerashchenko’s claims.

The men were found in an area held by the Russian military until a few days ago. Several foxholes, trenches and positions for armored vehicles were still visible around the site, as were leftover Russian rations. Several “V” letters — informal symbols for the Russian military campaign — were also painted at the entrance to the territory. 

The dead men had their hands tied behind their back and most of them had several gunshot wounds, not just to the head, but also to the lower limbs. There were several cartridge casings on the floor next to the bodies. 

Volunteers removed the bodies and placed them in body bags, which were later taken away.  

A volunteer told CNN they have been recovering bodies in large numbers, saying, “it’s in the hundreds, not dozens.” The volunteer and his unit showed CNN the body bags of at least 30 people who had been recovered on Sunday, plus an additional nine on Monday, including the five found in the basement.  

That unit is one of several operating in the outskirts of Kyiv. 

About two thirds of Russian troops that were centered around Ukraine’s capital city, Kyiv, have “departed the area,” a senior US defense official told reporters Monday. 

The troops that have left the area around Kyiv are “heading north,” and “consolidating in Belarus,” the official said. 

“What we continue to believe is that they’re going to be refit, resupplied, perhaps maybe even reinforced with additional manpower, and then sent back into Ukraine to continue fighting elsewhere,” the official added. 

The US “assessment” is that these troops will be “applied in the eastern party of the country, in the Donbas region,” to fight there, the official said. 

A “bitter fight” continues over Mariupol, but “there are no indications that the Russians have made any progress” in taking the city, the official said.

Russian forces are now “much more to a defensive posture” around Kherson, the official said.

“We assess that in the Kherson area, as we’ve been talking about for the last few days, the Russians have kind of gotten pinched between Kherson and Mykolaiv. We now assess that they’ve shifted much more to a defensive posture around Kherson,” the official added.

Russian forces are “still flying about more than 200 sorties a day,” and “most of their airstrikes are focusing on the Izyum area,” the official said.

A woman walks past a damaged building in Mariupol on April 1.

The besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol is “on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe,” with over 100,000 people still requiring evacuation, Mayor Vadym Boichenko said in a televised press briefing.

Boichenko said no evacuation buses had yet reached the city, despite agreements between Russia and Ukraine to open evacuation corridors. Some residents, he said, had managed to reach the nearby Russian-held city of Berdiansk in private cars, but added that the route was “very difficult and intermittent.” 

About 90,000 people have managed evacuation along the corridor between Berdiansk and the Ukrainian government-held city of Zaporizhzhia, he said, but added that more than 100,000 people still trapped in Mariupol.

“Today there are more than 100,000 people in Mariupol, whom we plan to but cannot evacuate. That is why we are asking the international community today to unite for the complete evacuation of the residents of Mariupol,” Boichenko said.

US President Joe Biden speaks to reporters upon arrival at Fort McNair in Washington, DC, on April 4.

US President Joe Biden Monday called the atrocities committed by Russia and President Vladimir Putin in Bucha, Ukraine, a “war crime” but said it was not a genocide, adding that he is looking into more sanctions on Russia.

“You may remember I got criticized for calling Putin a war criminal. Well the truth of the matter is you saw what happened in Bucha. This warrants him — he is a war criminal. But we have to gather the information. We have to continue to provide Ukraine with the weapons they need to continue the fight and we have to get all the details so this can be an actual — have a war crime trial. This guy is brutal and what’s happening in Bucha is outrageous and everyone’s seen it,” Biden told reporters upon landing in Washington, DC.

Asked whether the crimes committed in Bucha warrant the situation a genocide, Biden told reporters,“ No. I think it’s a war crime.”

Biden also said he was “seeking more sanctions” and would be announcing them shortly.

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The scenes in the towns of the Kyiv region freed from Russian control were “crucial evidence of brutal war crimes of the Russian Federation,” Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova said in a statement published on Sunday via her verified Facebook page.

“The tortured Kyiv region is not a route for political tourism, but a crime scene,” Venediktova said, urging prosecutions in Ukrainian and international courts. 

Substantial evidence of the massacre of civilians has emerged in recent days in suburbs of Kyiv, such as Bucha and Irpin.

To date, 410 bodies of slain civilians have been removed from Kyiv region and 140 of them have already been examined by prosecutors and other specialists, according to Venediktova.

The Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, together with the pre-trial investigation bodies, the military command, and the Military Law Enforcement Service, are working to document alleged crimes committed by Russian troops, she said.

Here are some more details she provided:

Officials have said efforts are underway to search for witnesses, victims and to collect photo and video evidence.

The Russian Ministry of Defense has issued blanket denials in response to intense international outcry, calling claims of alleged war crimes “fake.”

A 255-foot luxury yacht owned by Russian billionaire Viktor Vekselberg was seized by Spanish law enforcement Monday at the request of US officials, according to the US Department of Justice. 

Vekselberg has close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and his case marks the first seizure of a newly formed US task force, called KleptoCapture, dedicated to cracking down on sanctions violators in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

“The seizure of this luxury yacht demonstrates our determination to hold accountable those who support Vladimir Putin’s unwarranted invasion of another sovereign nation,” said US Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia.

According to the Justice Department, the super yacht, dubbed “Tango,” was seized based on alleged violations of US bank fraud, money laundering, and sanctions statutes. Another $625,000 spread across nine different banks was frozen as part of investigations into sanctions violations by Russian nationals.

Video released by Department of Justice:

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The areas of Ukraine where mass graves and murdered civilians were found “have been under the occupation, under the control of the aggressor, of the Russian troops, or they have been bombed out by the aggressor, the Russian troops,” Peter Stano, European Commission spokesperson for foreign affairs, said on Monday.  

Russia has denied any involvement in the killings, maintaining it doesn’t target civilians and saying the images of bodies on the streets of Bucha are fake. 

Speaking to journalists in Brussels, Stano said that “the perpetrators of all these violations and war crimes will be held accountable,” adding, “government officials and military leaders will be held accountable.” 

Stano said that the European Union will fully support “the investigation which was launched by the International Criminal Court prosecutor, and we also support fully the work of the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights Commission of Inquiry.” 

The EU is also “assisting the Ukrainian Prosecutor General and civil society which is focused on collection and preservation of evidence of the war crimes,” he added.  

Shocking atrocities in Ukraine, allegedly at the hands of Russian forces, have amplified calls to pursue war crimes charges against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Images of at least 20 bodies strewn across the street in Bucha, Ukraine, emerged over the weekend following the withdrawal of Russian forces from the area, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to call for an end to Russian “war crimes.” Russia’s bombing of hospitals and a theater where children were seeking refuge along with its suspected use of cluster bombs and so-called vacuum bombs in dense areas with many civilians have also been described as war crimes.

Here’s a very broad look at war crimes and the international justice movement.

What is a war crime?

The International Criminal Court has specific definitions for war crimes, which you can read in this guide published by the ICC. Specifically, targeting civilian populations, violating the Geneva Conventions, targeting specific groups of people and more could be potential Russian war crimes.

There is a method of gathering evidence from testimony, satellite images and elsewhere to meet a burden of proof.

What is the International Criminal Court?

Located in The Hague, Netherlands, and created by a treaty called the Rome Statute first brought before the United Nations, the International Criminal Court operates independently. Most countries are parties to the treaty, but there are very large and notable exceptions, including Russia and the US. And, for that matter, Ukraine.

Who can be tried by the court?

The court tries people, not countries, and focuses on those who hold the most responsibility: leaders and officials. While Ukraine is not a member of the court, it has previously accepted its jurisdiction. Putin could, therefore, theoretically be indicted by the court for previously ordering war crimes in Crimea.

However, the ICC does not conduct trials in absentia, so he would either have to be handed over by Russia or arrested outside of Russia. That seems unlikely.

How does the ICC bring proceedings?

Court proceedings can be brought in one of two ways: Either a national government or the UN Security Council can refer cases for investigation.

Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has veto power over council actions. It was requests by 39 national governments, most of them European, that sparked this current investigation.

How long do these investigations take?

If justice in general moves slowly, international justice barely moves at all. Investigations at the ICC take many years. Only a handful of convictions have ever been won.

How would an ICC case affect the conflict?

“For better or for worse, the ICC investigation may affect the diplomatic space for negotiations,” according to Ryan Goodman, a law professor at New York University and co-editor-in-chief of Just Security, an online forum.

He argued Putin and other Russians might not want to risk arrest if they travel outside the country.

The investigation could also weaken Putin at home, he added. “Russians may come to realize this is another reason Putin can no longer serve their country.”

Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Liudmyla Denisova holds a briefing on November 4, 2020 in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Ukraine’s Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Liudmyla Denisova said Monday that Russia’s treatment of prisoners of war violates the Geneva Conventions.

In a Facebook post on Monday, Denisova said that released Ukrainian soldiers have “told of the inhumane treatment of them by the Russian side: they were kept in a field, in a pit, in a garage. Periodically, one was taken out: beaten with rifle butts, shots fired next to their ear, intimidated.”

“The prisoners of war were taken away in an unknown direction and housed in a tent camp in temperatures of -20 degrees, as a result of which many boys had frostbite. They were treated like convicts, morally oppressed, and a dog was set on them while they were walking in the yard,” Denisova continued.

She added that some had been “starved for several days.”

Article 13 of the Geneva Convention on POWs states that “prisoners of war must at all times be humanely treated.” 

Denisova called on “the UN Commission for Investigation Human Rights Violations of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine and the expert mission set up by the OSCE participating States under the Moscow Mechanism to take into account these violations of the rights of Ukrainian prisoners of war.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stands in the town of Bucha, northwest of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, on April 4.

Ukraine wants to “show the world” what happened in Bucha, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, vowing that the country will “not pause” until it finds those accountable. 

Speaking from Bucha to reporters on Monday, Zelensky said it is “very important to us that the press is here” in the town. 

Shocking images of civilian bodies found strewn across a street in Bucha have sparked international outrage. The Kremlin questioned the reports regarding Bucha on Monday, rejecting all accusations of Russian military involvement.

The European Union on Monday announced it has established a joint investigation team with Ukraine to probe alleged Russian war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Zelensky told reporters Monday that the present situation a “matter of life and death and torture,” stressing Ukraine’s commitment for finding those responsible for the atrocities. 

“We are going to put maximum pressure. We shall not pause for one minute to find all the criminals and I think this will benefit civilization,” Zelensky continued. 

He warned that “if we don’t find a civilized solution,” the Ukrainian people “will find a non-civilized solution” to deal with matters.

President Volodymyr Zelensky, center, walks in the town of Bucha, Ukraine, on April 4.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has visited Bucha, agency video shows, after images of civilian bodies found strewn across a street sparked international outrage.

He addressed the cameras around him briefly, saying that it was “very difficult” for Ukraine to negotiate with Russia following the atrocities carried out by Russian forces in Bucha. Zelensky said the atrocities carried out in the town typify “the nature of the Russian military” and added that they “treat people worse than animals.”

He warned that “the longer the Russian Federation delays” talks with Ukraine the worse the situation becomes.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, accompanied by Ukrainian soldiers, speaks to the press during his visit to the town of Bucha, Ukraine, on April 4.

Wearing a flak jacket and surrounded by security, he talked about “key leaders of leading countries who made the decisions whether Ukraine should be a NATO member.”

“I think they should come here and see how these games, how this flirting with the Russian federation ends,” he said.

The European Union on Monday announced it has established a joint investigation team with Ukraine to probe alleged Russian war crimes and crimes against humanity after shocking images emerged from the town of Bucha in the aftermath of Russian forces withdrawing from the area. 

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen offered Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky her condolences on the “dreadful murders” that were revealed over the weekend in what she described as “harrowing mages” in a news release. 

“The EU is ready to reinforce this effort by sending investigation teams on the ground to support the Ukrainian Prosecution Services. Eurojust and Europol are ready to assist,” she said.

“I have tasked Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders to follow-up and take contact with the Ukrainian Prosecutor General.

“The Commission will provide all the necessary technical and financial support to all EU-led investigations,” she said.

Ukrainian man Dmytro Lisovyy was sheltering in the basement of his Bucha home for two weeks as the Russians attacked “every day and every night” nearby.

Russian troops were “present on the streets. Maybe from the fourth or fifth day, they decided to check all houses. They came to our house. They destroyed all of the electronic devices inside our house, including laptops, including TV and so on,” Lisovyy told CNN.

As the troops tried to find smartphones, Lisovyy said his family hid their current phones and gave up their old ones.

“As a result, we have some connection with the world. We understand what is going on and what could be time for evacuation,” he said.

Lisovvy also spoke of the horror of living through this time.

Eventually, he and his family decided to take the risk and use an evacuation route to escape.

The territory was “all controlled by Russian troops. There were many civilian cars destroyed by Russians during our evacuation. We saw it. They were shooting. It was civilian cars — not some other troops or something,” he said speaking of the risk his family took to escape.

They are now safe and Lisovyy spoke to CNN from Kyiv. However, many of his friends still remain in Bucha.

“My friends, unfortunately, [are] still in this area without any connection for a long time. No one knows if they survived or if they are OK,” he said.

Watch the full interview here:

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US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield speaks to the media after the conclusion of the Eleventh Emergency Special Session of General Assembly at the UN Headquarters, New York City, on March 24.

The US will ask the United Nations to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Monday their participation is “a farce.”

According to a tweet by US mission spokesperson Thomas-Greenfield, “in close coordination with Ukraine, European countries and other partners at the UN, we are going to seek Russia’s suspension from the UN Human Rights Council.”

“I am returning to New York to do two things. One: I will take this to the Security Council tomorrow morning and address Russia’s actions directly,” she wrote.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for an end to Russian war crimes, as the ongoing retreat of Russian forces around Kyiv reveals alleged atrocities.

In Bucha, northwest of the capital, images show civilian bodies found strewn across a street, and CNN reporters observed a mass grave in the town, with the mayor saying there could be hundreds of victims buried on site.

Bucha: Shocking images from the town recently liberated from Russian forces have sparked international outrage. The Kremlin questioned the reports regarding Bucha on Monday, rejecting all accusations of Russian military involvement. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has called on the International Criminal Court to investigate the killings while Zelensky described it as “genocide.”  

Global condemnation: Greece joined a host of countries in denouncing the atrocities in Bucha. In a statement posted online on Sunday, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs described scenes in Bucha as “horrific crimes” and called for those responsible to be held accountable. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki also called for an “independent commission” to investigate Russian war crimes in Ukraine as world leaders continue to condemn the massacre. 

Russia sanctions: French President Emmanuel Macron said he wants to see a total block on Russian exports of coal and oil to the European Union “this week,” following the discovery of what he described as “very clear signs” of war crimes in Bucha. He said that he would have discussions with his European partners this week regarding further sanctions on Russia. It comes as UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will call for tougher sanctions against Russia, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) said Monday.

Luhansk region: Serhiy Haidai, head of the Luhansk regional military administration in eastern Ukraine, said Monday that the Russian military had been gathering a “significant accumulation of troops and military equipment” in the region, in apparent preparation for an offensive push. The Russian military has said it is pulling back its forces from around Kyiv and the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv to concentrate efforts in the Donbas region of Ukraine’s east.

The United Arab Emirates sent a plane carrying more than 30 tons of medical and relief supplies to Ukraine, the state news agency WAM said on Sunday. 

This is the third plane sent by the UAE to Ukraine, in response to the international humanitarian appeal to support Ukrainians and those displaced in Ukraine, WAM said.

The UAE, along with several other Arab countries, have not publicly condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but chose to vote in favor of last month’s UN General Assembly resolution condemning Russian aggression.

Anwar Gargash, adviser to the UAE president, said last month that taking sides “would only lead to more violence.” The UAE’s priority is “to encourage all parties to resort to diplomatic action and to negotiate to find a political solution,” he said.

The International Humanitarian City in Dubai, in cooperation with international organizations in the city, had previously operated two other planes carrying 124 metric tonnes (136 tons), including relief supplies and shelter equipment, WAM said.

The Gulf country had also pledged $5 million in humanitarian assistance.

In a phone call last week, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed spoke to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky about the “importance of finding peaceful solutions through negotiation, dialogue to ensure ending the crisis,” WAM said.

An aerial view of a compressor station of the Jagal natural gas pipeline on March 24, near Mallnow, Germany. The Jagal is the German extension of the Yamal-Europe pipeline that transports Russian natural gas to Germany. 

Germany would face a “substantial recession” if supplies of Russian gas stop, according to one of the country’s top banking officials, Christian Sewing. 

Sewing, who is also the CEO of Deutsche Bank, predicted a 2% reduction in the German economy’s growth this year, adding that “substantial risks” mean the reduction may be even greater.

“Those are first of all the energy prices. They are a burden for many companies and consumers. Despite the easement measures of the German government, soaring prices or imminent bottlenecks in supplies could substantially slowdown the economy,” Sewing warned.

A German government spokesperson told CNN Saturday that Russian gas is still “flowing into Germany” and that supply security is “still guaranteed” after reports emerged last week claiming that flows had stopped.

A local resident walks near an apartment building in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine, on April 3.

Renewed attempts by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to reach the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol failed again Monday, a spokesperson told CNN.

The team have been trying to enter the city since Saturday to provide much needed humanitarian aid and facilitate evacuations for the civilians who remain trapped in the city, which has been a major target of Russian bombardment. 

After images emerged of civilian bodies strewn across the streets of Bucha, a town near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, mayor Anatoliy Fedoruk told CNN’s New Day’s Brianna Keilar via a translator this morning that “we will not forgive the Russian people for the atrocities that happened here.”

He said that “half the city is destroyed” and the city is now busy “transitioning from a war footing to peacetime living.”

They are working on identifying the bodies of the civilians who were shot dead, who mayor Fedoruk said “were indiscriminately killed by the Russian occupiers. A lot of them are elderly people.”

Around 3,000 people stayed in the town, which usually has a population of around 500,000, for the month of the Russian occupation, according to the mayor who also decided to stay. They were all “witnesses to the horrific events.”

Mayor Fedoruk noted that many children and teenagers were victims of the carnage, despite posing “no threat” to the Russian troops. “It was impossible not to see that they were children, not to see that a mother is carrying a child,” he told CNN.

He said that we can expect to see the same picture of atrocities from Kyiv to Mariupol, everywhere where the Russian occupiers have stepped, adding that what Putin has described as “denazification” is actually the “dehumanization of Ukrainians.”

Watch the interview:

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Russian President Vladimir Putin enjoyed two small diplomatic victories this weekend, after weeks of failing to divide Europe over his war in Ukraine.

In both Hungary and Serbia, openly pro-Russian parties comfortably won legislative elections, providing Putin with a welcome reminder that despite the international community’s firm and largely united response to the invasion, he does have some friends to his west.

The most significant victory came in the form of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his nationalist Fidesz party winning a landslide. Hungary is a member of both the European Union and NATO, meaning Putin can claim to have a friend with seats at the top table of two of his most-hated institutions.

On Sunday night, during his victory speech, Orban goaded not only the EU but Ukraine.

“We have such a victory it can be seen from the moon, but it’s sure that it can be seen from Brussels,” he said, adding that Fidesz “will remember this victory until the end of our lives because we had to fight against a huge amount of opponents.” Included in that list of opponents were Brussels bureaucrats, international media and, pointedly, Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky.

Putin was quick to congratulate Orban on his win. But few believe it will amount to much more than a symbolic victory and do little to affect the EU’s resolve on Ukraine.

Read the full analysis here:

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - FEBRUARY 17: Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban converse during a signing ceremony of several agreements between the two countries at Parliament on February 17, 2015 in Budapest, Hungary. Putin is in Budapest on a one-day visit, his first visit to an EU-member country since he attended ceremonies marking the 70th anniversary of the D-Day invasions in France in June, 2014. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Related article Pro-Putin leaders win two European votes, reminding Kremlin it has friends in high places

It’s been 39 days since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine and the true horrors of the war are now becoming clear.

The shocking images of lifeless civilian bodies in the town of Bucha, near the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, have attracted international condemnation with Human Rights Watch saying it has documented allegations of war crimes.

And while Russian forces continue to retreat around Kyiv, they have ramped up attacks in eastern Ukraine as it revises its invasion strategy.

Read here for five important developments in the war from over the weekend:

EDITORS NOTE: Graphic content / TOPSHOT - Bodies lie on a street in Bucha, northwest of Kyiv, as Ukraine says Russian forces are making a "rapid retreat" from northern areas around Kyiv and the city of Chernigiv, on April 2, 2022. - The bodies of at least 20 men in civilian clothes were found lying in a single street Saturday after Ukrainian forces retook the town of Bucha near Kyiv from Russian troops, AFP journalists said. Russian forces withdrew from several towns near Kyiv in recent days after Moscow's bid to encircle the capital failed, with Ukraine declaring that Bucha had been "liberated". (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP) (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)

Related article Five key developments in Ukraine over the weekend

Outside the Jewish Community Center in the Polish city of Krakow, more than a dozen members wait to greet their guest of honor as snow falls.

A yellow ambulance arrives and 82-year-old Margaryta Zatuchna, slight of frame with thick round glasses and a never-ending smile, steps out. She is handed two bouquets of roses, one orange and the other white.

She bows her head slightly and inhales deeply to smell each bunch. She is finally safe.

Forced to flee from the Nazis as a baby, the Holocaust survivor has been pushed out of her home again – this time by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine.

Read the full story here:

Related article Forced to flee the Nazis as a baby, this Ukrainian Holocaust survivor is running from her home once again

Soldiers walk amid destroyed Russian tanks in Bucha, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 3.

The Chairman of Russia’s Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, instructed his agency on Monday to analyze reports of civilian killings in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha, echoing the Russian Defense Ministry’s denial of any involvement in the incident.

Shocking images of the bodies of civilians found on the streets in Bucha, following the withdrawal of Russian forces, have prompted an international outcry.

Ukraine’s interior minister said Monday that he expected the number of bodies of civilians recovered in the Kyiv region to number in the hundreds, citing preliminary information.

The Investigative Committee has a record of launching politically motivated investigations, including pursuing criminal cases against Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny. Human rights advocates have described those investigations as a thinly veiled campaign of political persecution. 

The Kremlin on Monday again questioned the reports regarding Bucha, and rejected all accusations of Russian military involvement.

Peskov proposed a discussion on the incident at the UN Security Council meeting, saying such an initiative has been put forward by Russia, and blocked.

When asked if these accusations from the Ukrainian officials would affect the course of the bilateral negotiations, Peskov declined to comment, saying he had no update on the timing of the next rounds of Russia-Ukraine talks.

Western leaders have called for war crime investigations and fresh sanctions on Russia over the incident in Bucha.

This post has been updated.

Here are the latest headlines from the war in Ukraine:

Bucha: Horrifying images from the town of Bucha, near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, showed the lifeless bodies of at least 20 civilian men strewn across a single street. A CNN team also observed a mass grave in the town, which Ukrainian officials say had just been liberated from Russian forces. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has called on the International Criminal Court to investigate the killings. The Russian Ministry of Defense has claimed the extensive footage was “fake.”

International condemnation: Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was among the world leaders to denounce the killing of civilians in the Kyiv region. Kishida said he was “deeply shocked” by the “terrible atrocities” and called for Russia to be held accountable. The bodies of at least 400 civilians have been found so far in the Kyiv region, Ukrainian officials said Monday citing preliminary information.

Macron wants Russian exports blocked: French President Emmanuel Macron said he wants to see a total block on Russian exports of coal and oil to the European Union “this week,” following the discovery of what he described as “very clear signs” of war crimes in Bucha. He said that he would have discussions with his European partners this week regarding further sanctions on Russia.

Overnight airstrikes: The southern port city of Odesa was hit by an airstrike overnight, a military administration official said Monday morning. The city, which has been relatively calm during the Russian invasion and a haven for displaced Ukrainians, has been bracing for a Russian attack for weeks. 

Hungary’s Orban calls Zelensky an “opponent”: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in his victory speech his re-election sends a message not only to the European Union, but also to Zelensky, who he named along with a host of other perceived grievances as “opponents.” Orban is known as an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Civilian deaths: As of Sunday, at least 1,417 civilians have died in Ukraine since the Russian invasion began, the UN Human Rights office (OHCHR) said Monday. Of those who died, at least 121 were children, according to OHCHR. At least 2,038 civilians have been injured.

Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias, center, meets with Odesa mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov, left, near the Odesa Opera Theater, on April 3, in Odesa, Ukraine.

Greece joined a host of countries in “unequivocally” condemning the atrocities revealed over the weekend after Russian forces withdrew from Bucha, Ukraine.

In a statement posted online on Sunday, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs described scenes of civilian corpses lying strewn across the streets of Bucha as “horrific crimes committed during the withdrawal of the Russian occupation forces against Ukrainian unarmed civilians.” 

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Greeks will be evacuated from Ukraine via Odesa, where the Greek consulate has resumed operations, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias announced during his visit to the port city in southern Ukraine on Sunday. 

It will also assist in “the creation of corridors for the evacuation of Diaspora Greeks, if deemed necessary, from any part of Ukraine via Odesa,” he continued, as well as highlighting Greece’s “historic presence” in the city.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki attends a press conference at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister in Warsaw, Poland, on April 4.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has called for an “independent commission” to investigate Russian war crimes in Ukraine as world leaders continue to condemn the atrocities in Bucha. 

This commission would include doctors, criminologists and specialists, the Prime Minister added. 

In his speech, he called Russia a “totalitarian-fascist state” that must be stopped by NATO and the EU.

UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will call for tougher sanctions against Russia on a trip to Poland this week, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) said on Monday.

Truss will urge tougher action from allies against Russia ahead of G7 and NATO talks in Brussels later this week to strengthen Ukraine’s negotiating position in peace talks, according to the FCDO.

The Foreign Secretary is also set to pledge £10 million ($13.12 million) to support organizations working with survivors of sexual violence in Ukraine following accusations of rape by Russian soldiers.

Truss is due to meet her Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba in Warsaw Monday before meeting the Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau Tuesday, according to the FCDO.

UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss arrives to attend the government weekly cabinet meeting at Downing Street on March 8, in London, England.

Meanwhile, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck is also pushing for further sanctions on Russia and envisages a “large fifth package of sanctions” to be imposed “this week.” 

“I am fully convinced, we can substantially go further,” he said during a press conference in Berlin Monday. “We have seen how effective the sanctions are and we are also seeing circumventions.

We have seen where we can ban technical goods and thus continue destabilizing and weakening the Russian economy,” he said.

This post has been updated.

Oleksandr Syenkevych, the mayor of the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv, has told CNN that one person was killed and five others were injured in early morning missile strikes on Monday.

The strikes occurred shortly after 7:00 a.m. local time. A CNN team heard the strikes that hit the city.

Serhiy Haidai, head of the Luhansk regional military administration in eastern Ukraine, said Monday that the Russian military had been gathering a “significant accumulation of troops and military equipment” in the region, in apparent preparation for an offensive push.

Leaders in the Russian-backed separatist Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics previously announced a “full mobilization” in the territories under their control.

Haidai said the mobilization was underway, but added that the newly mobilized recruits were inexperienced and were “being used as cannon fodder.”

The Russian military has said it is pulling back its forces from around Kyiv and the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv to concentrate efforts in the Donbas region of Ukraine’s east.

A convoy of 30 buses carrying evacuees from Mariupol and Melitopol arrive at the registration center in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, on April 1.

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

On Sunday, seven buses accompanied by a delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross reached Manhush, Vereshchuk said. The ICRC delegation is planning on continuing the movement from Manhush to Mariupol along with the buses, she said.

If the ICRC-accompanied convoy reaches Mariupol, it would be the first case of organized evacuation by buses from the bombarded city. 

Some context: Mariupol has faced weeks of intense bombardment from Russian forces, and safely evacuating residents has proven exceedingly difficult. Ukrainian officials have described the situation there for the remaining residents as a major humanitarian emergency.

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks to media at the Prime Minister's office in Tokyo, Japan, on April 4.

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida denounced the killing of civilians in the Kyiv region in a statement on social media Monday.

The Japanese Prime Minister also called for action saying, “Russia must be held strictly accountable for those acts.”

French President Emmanuel Macron attends the France Inter 7/9 radio broadcast at the Maison de la Radio in Paris, France, on April 4.

French President Emmanuel Macron said it’s “his wish” to see a total block on Russian exports of coal and oil to the European Union “this week,” following the discovery of what he described as “war crimes” in the Ukrainian town of Bucha.

Speaking Monday on French broadcaster France Inter, Macron said there are “very clear signs” war crimes have been committed in Bucha and, “it’s pretty established that it’s the Russian army” who are responsible for them.

Macron said that he would have discussions with his European partners this week regarding further sanctions.

France stands ready to assist Ukraine in its investigation of the events in Bucha, Macron said, yet he refused to state if Russian President Vladimir Putin should face trial over what happened there.

The southern port city of Odesa was hit by an airstrike overnight, a military administration official said Monday morning.

A fuel depot was hit in Odesa early Sunday by Russian forces. Bratchuk said there were no casualties in that incident.

Some context: Odesa has been a place of relative calm during the Russian invasion and a haven for displaced Ukrainians from areas that have seen the worst fighting. But Odesa has been bracing for a Russian attack for weeks, with its city center full of anti-tank barricades to fortify against an invasion.

A satellite image shows a grave site with an approximately 45-foot long trench in the southwestern section of the area near the Church of St. Andrew and Pyervozvannoho All Saints, in Bucha, Ukraine, on March 31.

The bodies of civilians in the Kyiv region continue to be discovered following the departure of Russian forces, with at least 400 found so far, Ukrainian officials said Monday citing preliminary information.

Efforts to find local residents who stayed behind under Russian occupation have been hampered by the presence of mines, Ukrainian Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskiy said in televised remarks.

Naming locations such as Bucha, Irpin and Hostomel, interior ministry adviser Vadym Denysenko said approximately 400 civilians have been found dead in the Kyiv region but stipulated those figures were preliminary and would be updated.

People react as they gather close to a mass grave in the town of Bucha, just northwest of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, on April 3.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has called on the International Criminal Court to investigate the apparent killing of civilians in Bucha, northwest of Kyiv.

Kuleba accused Russian troops of killing civilians “out of anger” while occupying and later withdrawing from Bucha.

Some context: Shocking images show at least 20 civilian men’s bodies strewn across the street in Bucha following the withdrawal of Russian forces from the area. A mass grave was also discovered in the town. A CNN team saw at least a dozen bodies in body bags piled inside the grave, with Bucha’s mayor saying there could be up to 300 victims buried on site.

Leaders across the European Union and NATO were quick to denounce the civilian deaths, with some calling for accountability and investigations for war crimes. Russia has dismissed photos of the dead as fake.

Read more about Bucha here:

Vladimir is comforted by his wife Anna near a mass grave in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha.

Related article At a mass grave in a Kyiv suburb, the sense of loss is impossible to measure

A man says goodbye to family before the train leaves the eastern city of Kramatorsk, in the Donbas region of Ukraine, on April 3.

Russian military forces are “continuing to consolidate and reorganize as they refocus their offensive into the Donbas region in the east of Ukraine,” the UK Ministry of Defense said in an intelligence update Monday.

“Russian troops, including mercenaries from the Russian state-linked Wagner private military company, are being moved into the area,” the MoD added.

Some context: The update comes after US officials familiar with the latest US intelligence assessments said Russia has revised its Ukraine war strategy to focus on trying to take control of the Donbas and other eastern regions, with a target date of early May.

British officials have noted throughout the last week that fighters from the Wagner mercenary group would likely be used by Russia, in large part due to low morale among Russian forces and the stalled efforts of their invasion.

A woman walks past graves of local residents killed during the fighting in Mariupol, on April 3.

As of Sunday, at least 1,417 civilians have died in Ukraine since the Russian invasion began, the UN Human Rights office (OHCHR) said Monday.

Of those who died, at least 121 were children, according to OHCHR. At least 2,038 civilians have been injured.

Many of the killings occurred in Ukrainian-controlled parts of the country, which have suffered heavy bombardment from Russian forces — including areas in western Ukraine far from the frontlines. At least 67 of the deaths occurred in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk self-declared republics, according to the statement.

The UN OHCHR warned the civilian death toll is likely to be much higher.

Never again, the phrase often uttered after crimes against humanity, in practice, almost never means never again.

Sickening scenes of mass graves and murdered civilians in Ukraine this weekend, revealed by the pullback of Russian troops from Kyiv, are jolting the world back to some of humanity’s cruelest outrages.

Perhaps there’s a slim chance that such horrific footage will come to be emblematic of a turning point in the war by catalyzing more robust Western action and a new diplomatic commitment that could turn the tide of the conflict further against Russia.

But the only conceivable way that Ukrainian civilians could be made safe is if Western forces intervene in the conflict or Russian President Vladimir Putin suddenly calls off his onslaught.

Neither is likely to happen — not least because the West has imposed limits on its own action to avoid a direct conflict with nuclear-armed Moscow. And the Russian leader has always seen the lives of civilians in his way as cheap.

Still, the evidence of atrocities underscores a tragic realization that such evil is not simply the historic legacy of long-past wars.

Read the full analysis here:

TOPSHOT - People react as they gather close to a mass grave in the town of Bucha, just northwest of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on April 3, 2022. - President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of committing genocide and attempting to eliminate the "whole nation" of Ukraine, a day after the discovery of mass graves and apparently executed civilians near Kyiv. (Photo by Sergei SUPINSKY / AFP) (Photo by SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty Images)

Related article Analysis: Latest atrocities in Ukraine were inevitable and won't be the last

Russian forces are “actively withdrawing” from the Sumy Oblast in northeastern Ukraine, according to the regional governor, and taking their equipment with them.

Last week saw an influx of Russian troops between Bilopillya and Konotop — located to the northwest of the city of Sumy — where they “were shooting indiscriminately and terrorizing the population,” said Dmytro Zhyvytsky, head of the regional administration in the Sumy region, on his Telegram channel on Sunday.

Sumy region lies 30 miles (48 kilometers) from the border with Russia and was one of the first cities to have been attacked as part of the Russian invasion. 

The city of Sumy is where close to 1,700 students were forced to hide in their hostels as the invasion began.

International condemnations continued Sunday after shocking images emerged from the town of Bucha, just northwest of Kyiv, with Western leaders calling for war crimes investigations and increasing sanctions on Russia. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said an independent probe into the killings was “essential.”

Here are the latest headlines from the war in Ukraine:

Mass graves and civilians “executed”: Images from AFP on Saturday show the bodies of at least 20 men found strewn across a street in Bucha, which Ukrainian officials say had just been liberated from Russian forces. The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed the extensive footage was “fake.” CNN reporters also observed a mass grave in the town, with Bucha’s mayor saying that there could be up to 300 victims buried on site. Mayor Anatoliy Fedoruk told Reuters the civilians had been “executed.”

Zelensky outrage: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for an end of Russian “war crimes” in a video address Sunday, and for Russian leaders to be held accountable for the military’s actions. “I want all the leaders of the Russian Federation to see how their orders are being fulfilled.” He earlier called the events in Bucha “genocide.”

Hungary’s Orban calls Zelensky an “opponent”: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in his victory speech his re-election sends a message not only to the European Union, but also to Zelensky, who he named along with a host of other perceived grievances as “opponents.” Orban is known as an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

On the ground: The besieged city of Mariupol is still a hotbed for fighting and airstrikes and remains a “key objective of the Russian invasion,” the UK’s Ministry of Defense said in an intelligence report. The southern coastal city of Odesa came under attack Sunday, with a local official saying a Russian missile strike had hit “critical infrastructure.” The northern city of Chernihiv is about 70% destroyed following an assault by Russian troops, the city’s mayor said. And the regional military governor of Kharkiv said Russian forces had fired on a district, causing civilian casualties.

Filmmaker killed: Lithuanian documentary filmmaker Mantas Kvedaravičius was killed in Mariupol, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s information agency reported Sunday on Twitter. His 2011 documentary “Barzakh” focused on Russia’s war in Chechnya and earned him the Amnesty International Film Prize.

A woman walks amid destroyed Russian tanks in Bucha, in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sunday, April 3.

Shocking images of carnage in the town of Bucha, near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, show civilian bodies littering the street after five weeks of near-constant firefights. 

The photos were captured by Agence France-Presse on Saturday, the same day Ukraine declared the town liberated from Russian troops.

Here’s what we know so far:

Lithuanian documentary filmmaker Mantas Kvedaravičius was killed in Mariupol, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s information agency reported Sunday on Twitter.

Mariupol has been the center of intense bombardment from Russian strikes in recent weeks.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda expressed his condolences in a statement.

“We have lost not only in Lithuania, but also in the world, a well-known creator, who until the last moment, despite the danger, worked in Ukraine, which was attacked by the aggressor Russia. I wish strength and strength to M. Kvedaravičius’ relatives, friends and all fans of his talent, ” Nausėda said.

Lana Estemirova, the daughter of Natalia Estemirova, a human rights investigator from Chechnya who was murdered in 2009, mourned the death of Kvedaravičius on Twitter.

“Mantas was a family friend, a frequent guest in our Grozny flat. A brave and kind soul. I can’t believe this,” Estemirova said.

“RIP dearest Mantas – a true artist, cinema poet, mysterious and brave soul. A terrible loss for Lithuanian cinema community and all the world. Our hearts are broken,” Lithuanian documentary director Giedre Zickyte said on Facebook.

In 2016, Kvedaravičius‘ documentary “Mariupolis” premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival.

His 2011 documentary “Barzakh” focused on Russia’s war in Chechnya and earned him the Amnesty International Film Prize.

In a video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for an end to Russian “war crimes.”

His address came after reports of dozens of bodies found in the streets and mass graves in the Ukrainian city of Bucha.

Zelensky called on Russian leaders to be held accountable for the actions of the nation’s military.

“I want all the leaders of the Russian Federation to see how their orders are being fulfilled. Such orders. Such a fulfillment. And joint responsibility. For these murders, for these tortures, for these arms torn off by explosions that lie on the streets. For shots in the back of the head of tied people. This is how the Russian state will now be perceived. This is your image,” Zelensky said.

In his address, Zelensky announced a “mechanism of justice” would be established to investigate crimes committed by Russian soldiers in Ukrainian territory. The mechanism would be supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the Prosecutor General, the National Police, the Security Service, the Intelligence Service and other government branches, he said.

“This mechanism will help Ukraine and the world bring to concrete justice those who unleashed or in any way participated in this terrible war against the Ukrainian people and in crimes against our people,” he said.

Zelensky said he will provide more information on the state of Ukrainian territory that was occupied by Russian forces.

He also noted efforts are underway to restore electricity and water to Bucha, as well as reestablishing medical institutions and infrastructure.

 Zelensky once again invoked the need for stronger sanctions against Russia.

“There will definitely be a new package of sanctions against Russia. But I’m sure that’s not enough. More conclusions are needed. Not only about Russia, but also about the political behavior that actually allowed this evil to come to our land,” he said.

The top UN official said an “independent investigation” into the civilians killed in Bucha, Ukraine, is “essential” to ensure “effective accountability.”

“I am deeply shocked by the images of civilians killed in Bucha, Ukraine,” UN Secretary General António Guterres said in a statement Sunday.

“It is essential that an independent investigation leads to effective accountability,” he continued.

A mass grave has been discovered in the town of Bucha, in the outskirts of the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, a CNN team found. 

Bodies were first buried in the grave, on the grounds of the Church of St. Andrew and Pyervozvannoho All Saints, in the first days of the war, residents told CNN.

CNN saw at least a dozen bodies in body bags pilled inside the grave. Some were already partially covered. 

According to residents, more bodies are already buried on site. They said they belong mostly to civilians killed in the fighting around Bucha.

Residents told CNN that around 150 people are buried there. 

The mayor of Bucha said in public remarks on Saturday that there could be up to 300 victims buried on site.

CNN was unable to independently verify those numbers or the identities and nationalities of those buried in the grave.

The earth on the church grounds appeared to have been recently moved so it is feasible that a larger number of bodies is buried there. 

Bucha has seen some of the heaviest fighting since the war started. 

Destroyed Russian vehicles line the streets and most houses have been damaged in some way, with a large portion of the buildings there completely destroyed.

CNN’s Senior International Correspondent Fred Pleitgen, producer Vasco Cotovio, producer Daria Markina and photojournalist Byron Blunt also saw people at the site of the mass grave crying and looking for the bodies of lost loved ones.

Listen to CNN’s eyewitness account:

A man rides his bicycle near damaged residential buildings in Chernihiv, Ukraine on March 4.

The northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv is about 70% destroyed following an assault by Russian troops, Vladyslav Atroshenko, the city’s mayor, said Sunday.

The “consequences” of the attack by Russia in Chernihiv are “severe,” similar to the aftermath in other badly damaged cities and towns like Bucha, where bodies of civilians were found in the streets, as well as in Kharkiv and Mariupol, he said. 

The most urgent issues facing residents is a “concentration of Russian troops on the Belarusian border,” and concerns the city will be hit with more missiles and air bombs, Atroshenko added.

“Russians move around Ukraine like at home. And the fact that they left does not mean that they will not come back tomorrow. It takes about an hour and a half for them to get to us … Today we can say it is quiet, there is cleaning, there is demining,” he said.