UKRAINE RELEASES VIDEO OF RUSSIAN ATROCITIES IN BUCHA, ACCUSES MOSCOW OF WAR CRIMES

 

Kyiv Urges International Probe of Bucha Events

Ukraine asked the International Criminal Court to gather evidence of alleged war crimes by Russian soldiers in towns near Kyiv, notably Bucha. Graphic images triggered a push in Europe for new sanctions. Germany, France and Italy were among those condemning the actions. In response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said many of the images were faked.  

Watch the video below

The strategic Black Sea city of Odesa was rocked by a series of explosions early Sunday; Russia’s defense ministry said it targeted an oil refinery and fuel depots. Transnistria, a pro-Russian enclave in neighboring Moldova, on Saturday denied Ukraine’s claim that Moscow’s forces are redeploying in its territory to prepare for an assault on the Odesa region from the northwest. 

northwest. 

Black smoke billows after a Russian strike on an oil refinery in Odesa, Ukraine, on April 3.

Moscow’s chief negotiator said Russia and Ukraine will resume talks by video on Monday; Kyiv hasn’t confirmed the discussions. 

Key Developments

• Europe Warns Russia Faces New Sanctions for ‘War Crimes’
• Russian Bondholders Remain on Alert Even as Payments Flow
• Russian Ships Switch Flags at Record Rate Due to Sanctions Scrutiny
• A Hundred Firms Pull $45 Billion of Deals Since War in Ukraine
• Oil Prices Don’t Fully Reflect Russian Supply Risks, Says Vitol

Ruble Rebound Won’t Last, Blinken Says (7 p.m.)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the ruble’s rebound, fueled by “a lot of manipulation” by Russian authorities, is unsustainable.

EU Should Discuss Russia Oil Ban: German Official (6:00 p.m.)

German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said the European Union should discuss a ban on Russian natural gas imports. Asked twice in an ARD television interview whether the response to reported Russian atrocities should include an end to gas shipments, Lambrecht said EU ministers “have to discuss precisely that.”

She cautioned that the EU’s response is strongest when all member countries take a coordinated approach to punitive measures. The EU has been divided over cutting off Russian energy imports. 

Italian Party Chief Calls for Full Russian Energy Embargo (5:00 p.m.)

Democratic Party leader Enrico Letta, whose party is part of Italy’s governing coalition and leads in voter preference polls, called for a “full oil and gas” embargo against Russia.  

Italy is trying to reduce dependency on Russian gas imports, which accounted for 38% of its gas consumption last year.