Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly is just the latest Western official to condemn Moscow’s actions in Ukraine following the withdrawal of Russian troops from the city on the outskirts of Kiev, leaving behind streets littered with civilian bodies. Some appeared to have been deliberately killed nearby. Some of the corpses were left in the countryside or in hastily dug graves. “This weekend, the people witnessed a heinous and irrational attack on innocent civilians in Bucha. These terrorist acts will not go unpunished,” Jolie told a news conference with her Finnish counterpart in Helsinki on Monday. “These are clear war crimes.” CLOCKS Creepy scenes appear near Kyiv as Russian troops retreat
Creepy scenes appear near Kyiv as Russian troops retreat
WARNING: This video contains graphics. The devastation of the war is nowhere more evident than in Bucha, one of Kiev’s northern suburbs, where the streets are littered with civilian bodies and burnt-out vehicles. 5:05
On Monday afternoon, the House of Commons approved a motion by NDP lawmaker Heather McPherson condemning the Bucharest scenes as war crimes.
The resolution also called on Parliament to support increased aid to Ukraine, accountability to the International Criminal Court, and tougher trade restrictions and economic sanctions on Russia.
“These heinous acts require action. Vladimir Putin and the Russian military must not be allowed to escape,” McPherson said.
“More sanctions need to be imposed:” Jolie
Jolie said Canada would continue to support the International Criminal Court’s investigation into the actions of Russian troops during the war.
Together with the three RCMP special investigators already on trial, the RCMP is sending seven additional special investigators to The Hague to support the investigation into reports of war crimes and crimes against humanity taking place in Ukraine.
“Responsibilities will be sought,” Jolie said.
On Monday, the government announced a new round of sanctions on those with ties to Russia and the Belarussian regime. Canada has nine more Russians and nine Belarusians on its list “for facilitating and enforcing violations of Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence.”
A dead body is found on the ground on a street in Bucha, northwest of Kiev. (Ronaldo Schemidt / AFP / Getty Images)
“There needs to be more sanctions and there will be more sanctions,” Jolie said.
“On the issue of the supply of lethal weapons, of course my colleague Defense Minister Anita Anand is working on many scenarios and I will support her as she does her job.”
Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie has said that Canada will continue to support the International Criminal Court’s investigation. (The Canadian Press / Adrian Wyld)
On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky again called on Russia to negotiate an agreement to end the war.
“They were found dead in barrels, underground, strangled, tortured,” he said.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed the allegations and described the scenes outside Kyiv as a “stage anti-Russian provocation.”
