Ukraine and Russia: What you need to know right now

Reuters

April 4 (Reuters) – Global outrage spread over civilian killings near Kyiv including evidence of bound bodies shot at close range and a mass grave found in areas retaken from Russian troops.

WAR CRIMES INVESTIGATION?

* Ukraine said 50 of some 300 bodies found in Bucha northwest of Kyiv city were victims of extra-judicial killings by Russian troops. Reuters could not verify the report.

* Satellite images showed a 45-foot (14-m) -long trench dug into the grounds of a church where a mass grave was found.

* Ukraine called for an International Criminal Court investigation that France and Britain said they would support, and rights group Human Rights Watch said it had documented “apparent war crimes”.

* Russia said alleged “crimes” by its troops in Bucha were a “provocation” and no resident suffered.

FIGHTING

* Ukraine’s General Staff said Russia was expected to mobilise about 60,000 reservists. Reuters could not independently confirm the claim.

* Explosions were heard in the cities of Kherson and Odesa, in the south and sounded across Ukraine’s east.

Local residents walk past a destroyed building in Mariupol — Local residents walk past a building destroyed during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine April 3, 2022. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko

A view shows an armoured convoy of pro-Russian troops near Mariupol — A view shows an armoured convoy of pro-Russian troops during Ukraine-Russia conflict on a road near the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine April 3, 2022. Picture taken April 3, 2022. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko
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Local resident Yekaterina Lanina cooks pancakes outside an apartment building in Mariupol — Local resident Yekaterina Lanina, 34, cooks pancakes outside an apartment building during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine April 3, 2022. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko
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Local residents draw water from a well near the building of a destroyed theatre in Mariupol — Local residents draw water from a well near the building of a theatre destroyed in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol Ukraine April 3, 2022. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko
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A Ukrainian service member inspects a compound of the Antonov airfield in the settlement of Hostomel — A Ukrainian service member inspects a compound of the Antonov airfield, as Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues, in the settlement of Hostomel, in Kyiv region, Ukraine April 3, 2022. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich
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The remains of cars are seen in front of a destroyed apartment building in Mariupol — The remains of cars are seen in front of an apartment building destroyed during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine April 3, 2022. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko
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A soldier takes a photograph of his comrade as he poses beside a destroyed Russian tank and armoured vehicles, amid Russia's invasion on Ukraine in Bucha, in Kyiv region — A soldier takes a photograph of his comrade as he poses beside a destroyed Russian tank and armoured vehicles, amid Russia’s invasion on Ukraine in Bucha, in Kyiv region, Ukraine April 2, 2022. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
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A general view of destroyed Russian tanks and vehicles, in Dmytrivka village — A general view of destroyed Russian tanks and vehicles, amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in Dmytrivka village, west of Kyiv, Ukraine April 1, 2022. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra
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* Heavy fighting has continued in Mariupol as Russian forces attempt to take the southeastern port city, British military intelligence said. read more

ECONOMY

* Ukraine demanded crippling new sanctions from major Western powers over what it called the Bucha “massacre”. read more

* Germany said the West would agree more sanctions on Russia in coming days, with its defence minister saying the European Union should discuss ending imports of Russian gas.

* French President Emmanuel Macron said new sanctions were needed, including on oil and coal, and that there were “very clear clues pointing to war crimes” by Russian forces in Bucha. read more

PEACE TALKS

* Russia said it had requested a U.N. Security Council meeting on Monday because of what Moscow called Kyiv’s attempts to disrupt peace talks and escalate violence with a “provocation” in Bucha.

* Britain’s mission to the U.N. said that request had been denied and that the Council would discuss Ukraine on Tuesday.

QUOTES * “What is more opposite to music? The silence of ruined cities and killed people,” Zelenskiy said in a Grammy Awards video. read more

* “I recognised him by his sneakers, his trousers. He looked mutilated, his body was cold,” said Tetyana Volodymyrivna, a resident of Bucha, describing her husband.

Compiled by Michael Perry and John Stonestreet; Editing by Clarence Fernandez

SOURCE: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-russia-what-you-need-know-right-now-2022-03-29/