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EU is ready to send investigators to Bucha — European Commission president

On April 3, the Russian Ministry of Defense rebutted Kiev’s accusations of murder of civilians in the town of Bucha, Kiev Region

BRUSSELS, April 4. /TASS/. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday said the EU plans to send investigators to Bucha who will team up with Ukrainian prosecutors, Europol and Eurojust.

"The EU is ready to send Joint Investigation Teams to document war crimes in coordination with the Ukrainian Prosecutor General," she said on Twitter. "Europol and Eurojust will support."

Earlier on Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov described the situation in Bucha as a "fake news attack." He referred to it as a frame-up that’s now being fanned on all TV channels and social networks in Ukraine and the West. The top Russian diplomat said Moscow views the situation in Bucha as a provocation that threatens international peace and stability and will demand that the UK, which chairs the UN Security Council, call a meeting on the subject.

On April 3, the Russian Ministry of Defense rebutted Kiev’s accusations of murder of civilians in the town of Bucha, Kiev Region. The ministry stated that Russian forces completely withdrew from Bucha on March 30, while the "evidence of crimes" didn’t appear until four days later when Ukrainian Security Service officers arrived in Bucha. The Defense Ministry also said that Bucha Mayor Anatoly Fedoruk confirmed in a video address on March 31 that there were no Russian forces in the city, and he didn’t mention any civilians shot and killed in the streets.

Some politicians and representatives of international organizations, including UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, have called for an investigation into the events in Bucha. Meanwhile, the leaders of some European countries, as well as the European Commission and the EU external service have already called for new sanctions against Russia.

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Ukraine crisis Ukraine EU

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