Ukrainian and Western officials demand an investigation into war crimes following civilian massacre in a small town outside Kyiv

Ukrainian and Western officials are demanding an investigation into war crimes following a civilian massacre in a small town outside Kyiv. Residents say before Russian troops retreated from the area this weekend, they killed civilians without reason.

Multiple bodies were scattered on the roads and a mass grave was discovered in Bucha this weekend, following a Russian withdrawal from the area.

Ukrainian authorities and residents are accusing departed Russian forces of targeted killings, claiming troops went door-to-door shooting civilians without reason.

Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky and western allies are alleging more war crimes from Russia, but the Kremlin is rejecting the claims and firing back calling it a provocation from Ukraine.

The horrific scenes drew condemnation from NATO countries. Canada’s foreign affairs minister, Melanie Joly called it a ‘senseless murder of the innocent’ and the president of the European Commission demanded an investigation.

Ukraine claims the area was taken back from Russian units who have also retreated out of the northern flank. NATO secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg says, “what we see is not a real withdrawal, but we see that Russia is repositioning its troops, and they are taking some of them back to be armed and to reinforce them to resupply them, but we should not in a way be too optimistic because the attacks will continue.”

NATO officials say Ukraine forces should expect to see more supply as well. The U.S. secretary of state, Antony Blinken says, “between the united states and our allies and partners, for every Russian tank, were supplying 10 anti-tank systems for every Russian tank, so across the board, were making sure the Ukrainians have the systems they need, to use and to use right away.”

Ukraine’s deputy prime minister is reporting that a mayor of a village in the Kyiv region was murdered while being held by Kremlin forces. She adds that there are at least 11 mayors and community leaders that are under Russian captivity in the country today.