By Oleksandr Kozkukhar

LVIV (Ukraine) – Wednesday’s US and NATO sanctions were imposed on Moscow for civilian deaths in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zilenskiy called them “war crimes”, which warranted a proportionate punishment.

After dead civilians were shot from close range in Bucha (Ukraine), seized by Russian forces, Western sanctions against Russia for its six-week-long invasion of the neighboring country gained new momentum this week.

Russia has denied that it targeted civilians in Bucha. It described the evidence presented by West as a “monstrous fakery” to discredit Russia.

The White House stated that new sanctions will be revealed Wednesday as part of a reaction to Bucha.

Washington, Group of Seven advanced countries and the European Union coordinated the actions. They will be used to target Russian bank officials and prevent new Russian investment, according the White House.

The proposed EU sanctions must be approved by the 27 members of the bloc. They would prohibit Russian coal purchases and stop Russian ships entering EU ports.

Ursula von der Leyen is the EU’s executive and stated that they are working towards banning oil imports. Europe, which receives around a third from Russia has always been concerned about the economic effects of a total ban.

Germany’s foreign minister stated that the ban on coal was the first step towards an embargo against all Russian imports of fossil fuels. Ukraine believes that Russian gas must be banned in order to reach a peaceful settlement.

Zelenskiy declared that any new sanctions against Russia should be “comparable with the gravity and war crimes of the occupiers,” calling this a “crucial moment for Western leaders”.

He stated that if Russian banks operate as normal, if Russian goods continue to be transported to Russia as before, and if EU countries continue paying Russia for their energy as in the past, the political fates of certain leaders will not change as expected.”

SHIFTING BATTLES

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24 has been unsuccessful in capturing any major cities. It calls it a “special Military Operation” to “denazify and demilitarize” Ukraine.

Ukraine and the West reject the Kremlin’s position as they consider it a pretext to an unprovoked invasion which has displaced a quarter the population.

After being hampered by Ukrainian resistance, Russia’s troops withdrew mainly from Kyiv last Wednesday. The offensive has been shifted to Ukraine’s east and south.

According to the flag registry, Tuesday saw the sinking of a cargo ship with Dominica’s flag, after it was hit by Russian missile attacks in the southern port of Mariupol.

Russia has not responded to my request for comment. According to its armed forces, they claimed on Tuesday that they had destroyed two Ukrainian military transport helicopters trying to flee the city.

General staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces stated that attacks on Mariupol are continuing but didn’t give details.

The general staff reported that Ukrainian forces destroyed at least three Russian tanks in the eastern region, including around twenty other armored vehicles.

BUCHA BURIAL

Officials in Ukraine claim that between 150-300 bodies could be found in Bucha’s mass grave, just north of Kyiv.

A private U.S. firm said that satellite images from weeks ago showed civilian bodies on the street. This contradicts Russia’s claim that Ukrainian forces were responsible for the deaths, or that the scene had been staged.

Reuters reporters witnessed at least four victims being shot in the head in Bucha. One of them was tied behind his back.

Many others were shot through the eyes, and some victims had their wounds mutilated.

Ukrainian Serhii Lehovskyi buries the body of his childhood friend, who was shot in the head at close range when he disappeared during the Russian occupation.

Lahovskyi, along with others, dug a shallow burial plot on a verge of grass. To transport the remains they used a rug to move them. They then covered him with boards made of wood and shoveled earth over top.

“Why did they shoot him?” Lahovskyi said, sobbing. Sobbing, Lahovskyi said: “This is not Russia. This monster.”

Reuters was unable to independently confirm the Lahovskyi account details or the identity of the person responsible for Bucha’s murders.