Update on Russian Invasion of Ukraine For April 4, 2022

        

Mass Grave Discovered Near Kyiv  

The war between Russia and Ukraine rages on. And things seem to just get worse as time goes on, and the human toll becomes clearer.  

Recently, a mass grave was discovered in the town of Bucha, on the outskirts of Ukraine’s capital city of Kyiv. Ukrainians recently managed to take the town back from the occupying Russian forces. The definitive number has not been discovered just yet, although most of the estimates range between 150 to 300 people, according to the mayor of Bucha. For now, there can be no precise confirmation.  

The streets of some of the roads in Bucha are a complete mess, with some stalled and burnt out Russian tanks, and dead carcasses lying around.  

Some are already calling the scene a “war crime,” although it is still uncertain how or when any Russian leaders will be held accountable before an international tribune. However, it sure looks like war crimes have been committed here.  

Wladimir Klitschko, the former boxing heavyweight champion of the world and brother to Kyiv mayor Vitaly Klitschko, has said on social media outlets that these kills are evidence of what he called the Russian “genocide of Ukrainian population.”  

For their part, Russia has denied killing civilians in Bucha, as they have denied responsibility for attacking civilians.  

Still, Russia attacked near Odessa, a city in southeastern Ukraine on the Black Sea. It is the main base of Ukraine’s navy. Russian missiles hit an oil refinery near the city. No casualties have been reported, although the city council did admit that “critical infrastructure facilities” had been hit. Many have long expected Russia to launch an attack on Odessa, perhaps even launching an amphibious attack. To date, however, the city had largely been spared the worst of the excesses of this war. The attacks over this weekend, however, were an unsettling sign that it might not continue to be spared.              

Meanwhile, there were no real signs that the negotiations between the two sides to find common ground enough to end the war were any nearer.   

  

Ukraine war: Wladimir Klitschko calls Bucha killings 'genocide of Ukrainian population' published by Sky News, 3 April 2022:  The brother of Kyiv mayor Vitaliy posted a video on social media from the town, with dead bodies behind him.  

https://news.sky.com/video/ukraine-war-wladimir-klitschko-calls-bucha-killings-genocide-of-ukrainian-population-12581715  

The horrors of Putin's invasion of Ukraine are increasingly coming to light by Vasco Cotovio, Frederik Pleitgen, Byron Blunt and Daria Markina, CNN, Sun April 3, 2022:  

https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/03/europe/ukraine-bucha-horrors/index.html  

Missiles hit Ukrainian refinery, 'critical infrastructure' near Odessa port, Reuters, April 3, 2022:  

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/missiles-hit-ukrainian-refinery-critical-infrastructure-near-odessa-port-2604726