Exclusive: Zelenskiy accuses Russia of war crimes, sees no early end to war

KYIV, Sept 16 (Reuters) – President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Russia on Friday of committing war crimes in Ukraine’s northeast and mentioned it was too early to say the tide of the war was turning regardless of speedy territorial positive aspects by his forces this month.

The Ukrainian chief additionally informed Reuters in an interview that the end result of the war with Russia, now in its seventh month, hinged on the swift supply of overseas weapons to his nation.

He in contrast the state of affairs in newly liberated areas of the northeast “to the bloody soap opera after Bucha”, a city close to Kyiv the place he accused Russian forces of committing quite a few war crimes within the first part of the war. Moscow denied the fees.

“As of today, there are 450 dead people, buried (in the northeastern Kharkiv region). But there are others, separate burials of many people. Tortured people. Entire families in certain territories,” Zelenskiy mentioned.

Asked if there was proof of war crimes, he mentioned: “All this is there… There is some evidence, and assessments are being conducted, Ukrainian and international, and this is very important for us, for the world to recognise this.”

The Kremlin didn’t instantly reply to a request for touch upon Zelenskiy’s new allegations.

Russia recurrently denies concentrating on civilians throughout what it calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine and has mentioned previously that accusations of human rights abuses are a smear marketing campaign.

The governor of Kharkiv area, Oleh Synhubov, informed reporters on Friday at one of the burial websites within the metropolis of Izium that some our bodies exhumed there had been discovered with their arms tied behind their backs. learn extra

Moscow has not commented on the mass burial website in Izium, which was a Russian frontline stronghold earlier than Ukraine’s counter-offensive compelled its forces to flee.

NO EARLY END TO WAR

Friday’s interview came about within the president’s workplace within the heavily-guarded authorities district, which is now like a citadel for Zelenskiy and his advisers. Sandbags had been piled up within the home windows of the constructing’s labyrinthine, dimly-lit corridors.

An air raid siren – used to warn of the hazard of incoming missiles – sounded in Kyiv shortly earlier than the interview.

Zelenskiy, who visited Izium on Wednesday, repeated his attraction forWestern international locations and others to step up weapons provides to Ukraine.

“We would want more help from Turkey, We would want more help from South Korea. More help from the Arab world. From Asia,” he mentioned.

Zelenskiy additionally cited “certain psychological barriers” in Germany to supplying navy tools as a result of of its Nazi previous however mentioned such provides had been very important for Ukraine to defend itself in opposition to what he known as Russian “fascism”. He has typically accused Berlin of dragging its toes over offering arms.

He lauded Ukraine’s speedy counter-offensive however performed down any suggestion that the war was getting into some type of end sport. “It’s early to talk about an end to this war,” he mentioned.

Zelenskiy mentioned he would solely help the concept of reopening Russian ammonia exports by way of Ukraine, an initiative proposed by the United Nations, if Moscow handed again Ukrainian prisoners of war to Kyiv. learn extra

Speaking in Uzbekistan on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin disregarded Ukraine’s counter-offensive with a smile, however warned that Russia would reply extra forcefully if its troops had been put underneath additional stress. learn extra

Zelenskiy mentioned he had been satisfied that overseas weapons provides to Ukraine would have fallen if Kyiv had not launched its counter-offensive and that the territorial positive aspects would impress different international locations.

“I think this is a very important step that influenced, or will influence, the decisions of certain other countries,” he mentioned.

Asked on the 205th day of the war if he ever acquired an opportunity to chill out, Zelenskiy mentioned: “I’d really want the Russians to relax”.

Editing by Gareth Jones

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