War in Ukraine: New York Times identifies Russian soldiers responsible for civilian executions in Bautza

The body of a man, his wrists tied behind his back, lies on a street in Bucha, northwest of the capital, Que, on April 2, 2022 ©AFP or licensors

Although Kiev has directly accused them of massacring the residents of Putsa, the Russians have always denied responsibility for the deaths of these citizens, speaking of genocide and war crimes.

However, the The New York Times, after an eight-month investigation, was able to prove the involvement of Putin’s troops in the execution of residents of a small Ukrainian town. Thanks in part to phone calls made from the cell phones of Ukrainian victims, American media have identified the squad of soldiers responsible for the summary executions carried out on the streets of Boutcha. It was, according to the NYT, the 234th Air Assault Squadron. The investigation identified 36 victims.

“It doesn’t matter if there are civilians or not. Kill everyone”: Massacre of Bautza, Ukraine

“Russian soldiers interrogated and executed unarmed. They killed people, including children who fled with their families, villagers going to the shops or returning home on bicycles”, the newspaper recalls, adding that those responsible for these massacres could find themselves before the courts. The International Criminal Court at The Hague is a jurisdiction that hears the most serious crimes, including war and genocide.