Luxembourg PM Tours Ukraine's Bucha, Pledges Support To Investigate 'Atrocities'

June 21, 2022

By RFE/RL

Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel (file photo)

Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel says his country will support local and international investigations of "war crimes" committed in Ukraine to ensure that those responsible are "identified, prosecuted, and punished."

After touring the towns of Bucha and Borodyanka, Bettel said in a series of tweets on June 21 that the destruction wrought by Russian forces during their invasion of Ukraine stands as a "symbol of senseless cruelty and violence."

"Nothing can convey the horror of what has happened here," he said.

"I admire the courage of the women and men who are in the process of bringing these cities back to life after the barbarism that took place," he added.

The retreat of Russian forces from Bucha, Borodyanka, Irpin, and other towns near Kyiv in April has revealed harrowing evidence of brutal killings, torture, mass graves, and the indiscriminate targeting of civilians in the fighting.

Ukraine says it has identified thousands of war crimes committed by Russian troops during the war.

Investigators from several countries, as well as the International Criminal Court, have been gathering and examining evidence to determine whether war crimes have been committed.

Russia says it has not purposely targeted civilians in its military operations despite mounting video and concrete evidence that shows the destruction of apartment buildings, hospitals, cultural venues, and other nonmilitary sites.

On May 23, a court in Kyiv sentenced a 21-year-old Russian soldier Vadim Shishimarin to life in prison for killing an unarmed civilian in the northeastern region of Sumy.

https://www.rferl.org/a/ukaine-luxembourg-bettel-bucha-war-crimes/31908362.html

Luxembourg PM arrives in Kyiv

21.06.2022 11:20

Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel has arrived in Kyiv to show his country's solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

According to Ukrinform, Bettel announced this on Twitter.

"Arrived in Kyiv. Showing Luxembourg's solidarity with the people of Ukraine. Because as long as Russia's war lasts, Luxembourg will stand with Ukraine," he wrote.

Earlier reports said that Luxembourg had already frozen over EUR 4 billion worth of Russian assets as a result of EU sanctions against Russia.

https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/3511611-luxembourg-pm-arrives-in-kyiv.html