Zelensky showed a short video of burnt, bloodied and mutilated corpses, including children, in Irpin, Dymerka, Mariupol and Bucha, where Ukraine blames Russian troops for killing hundreds of civilians. read more Russia’s ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, later told the Security Council that Russian troops were not targeting civilians, dismissing allegations of abuse as lies. He said that while Buha was under Russian control, “no civilians were harmed.” Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Zelensky questioned the value of the 15-member UN Security Council, which failed to take action on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24 because Moscow has a veto power, along with its permanent members, the United States. France, Britain and China. “We are dealing with a state that is turning its veto on the UN Security Council into a right (causing) death,” Zelensky said in a live video broadcast from the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, urging reform of the world body. “Russia wants to turn Ukraine into a silent slave.” Russia says it is conducting a “special military operation” aimed at destroying and “defusing” Ukraine’s military infrastructure, and denies attacking civilians. Ukraine, a parliamentary democracy, and Western countries say Moscow invaded without provocation. China, Russia’s ally, which abstained in most UN polls since the start of the war, was “deeply disturbed” by images of civilian deaths in Bhutan, China’s ambassador to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, called for verification of what had happened. India, which relies heavily on Russia for military equipment and has also abstained from UN action, has condemned the Bhutanese killings and called for an independent inquiry. read more Russia’s Nebenzia said: “We are not firing on political targets to save as many civilians as possible. That is why we are not moving as fast as many expected.” ‘BACKBONE APPEARANCE’ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy appears on screen as he addresses the UN Security Council via video link during a meeting during the Russian invasion of Ukraine at the United Nations Headquarters in Manhattan, New York, New York, USA, 5 April 2022. REUTERS / Andrew Kelly read more US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said responsible world powers and world leaders must “show the backbone – and stand up to Russia’s dangerous and unprovoked threat to Ukraine and the world.” “No one can be a shield against Russian aggression,” he said, as Washington pushed for the suspension of Russia from the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council. The 193-member UN General Assembly in New York is likely to vote on the motion to suspend Russia’s operation on Thursday, diplomats said. A two-thirds majority of the members present and voting shall be required. read more Nebenzia replied: “I hope that our colleagues from the United Nations will not allow themselves to be manipulated and play at the height of Washington.” The United Nations says about 11 million Ukrainians – more than a quarter of the population – have fled their homes. More than 4 million of these people have left Ukraine. The head of UN humanitarian aid, Martin Griffiths, said at least 1,430 civilians had been killed, including more than 121 children. “We know this is probably a serious devaluation,” he added. Griffiths, who is seeking a humanitarian truce in Ukraine, said “we have a long way to go” after a “sincere” meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Monday. Griffiths said he hoped to travel to Ukraine on Wednesday to meet with Ukrainian officials. UN Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo has said that UN human rights watchdogs are trying to verify allegations of sexual violence by Russian forces. “These include gang rape and rape in front of children,” he said. “There are also allegations of sexual violence by Ukrainian forces and civil defense militias.” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned the Security Council that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is one of the biggest challenges facing the international community “because of its nature, its intensity and its consequences”. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Report by Michelle Nichols and Humeyra Pamuk. Edited by: Jonathan Oatis Our role models: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
