At UNSC, India Condemns Bucha Civilian Killings, Calls for Independent Probe

Tirumurti's comments came after a fiery speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a day after his visit to Bucha.

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/India at NY) 

India on Tuesday, 5 April, condemned the alleged killing of civilians in the Ukrainian town of Bucha and called for an independent investigation into the "deeply disturbing" matter.

Speaking at a session of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Tuesday, TS Tirumurti, India's Permanent Representative to the UN, said, "Recent reports of civilian killings in Bucha are deeply disturbing. We unequivocally condemn these killings and support the call for an independent investigation".

Tirumurti, however, did not name Russia while making the statement.

He also emphasised India's long-standing position on the issue to call for an immediate cessation of violence and an end to hostilities.

"We have emphasised right from the beginning of the conflict the need to pursue the path of diplomacy and dialogue. When innocent human lives are at stake, diplomacy must prevail as the only viable option," he said, as per a report by ANI.

Further, he stated, “The impact of the crisis is being felt beyond the region with increasing food and energy costs, especially for many developing countries. It is in our collective interest to work constructively, both inside the United Nations and outside, towards seeking an early resolution to the conflict.”

He added that India continued to send humanitarian supplies to Ukraine, and was ready to provide more medical supplies in the coming days.

Tirumurti also said that India consistently emphasised that the global order was based on international law, the principles of the UN Charter, and respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of states.

Zelenskyy Calls for Moscow’s Expulsion From UNSC

Tirumurti's comments came after a fiery speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a day after his visit to Bucha.

Zelenskyy said that he was addressing the UNSC on behalf of the victims of Russia. Speaking to the council for the first time since Russia's invasion began, he alleged that Russian troops had killed civilians and raped women in the country.

"What Russian military did in Bucha is cruelty. The UN Charter has been violated literally. The massacre in Bucha is only one of many examples," he said.

As many as 410 bodies have been recovered from the wider Kyiv region that has been reclaimed from the Russian forces in Ukraine, officials had said on Sunday. Russia, however, has denied any violence against civilians.

Zelenskyy stated that there was no difference between the actions of Russia and those of terrorist organisations, and called for Moscow's expulsion from the UNSC. He also demanded that Russia should brought before an international tribunal to answer for its "crimes".

(With inputs from ANI.)