UN chief visits several Ukrainian towns

By Ruslan Rehimov

KYIV, Ukraine (AA) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday visited the Ukrainian towns of Borodyanka, Bucha and Irpin.

After inspecting the war-ravaged neighborhoods of Borodyanka, Guterres said he imagined his family in “one of those homes, now destroyed and black.”

A war in the 21st century is “absurd,” he said.

During his visit to Bucha, he expressed satisfaction that the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigated the incidents that occurred in the town.

Praising the work of the ICC, he called on Russia to cooperate with the court.

“When we talk about war crimes, we cannot forget that the worst of crimes is war itself," he said.

“Civilians always pay the highest price. Innocent civilians were living in these buildings. They were paying the highest price for a war for which they had not contributed at all,” the UN chief added.

At least 2,829 civilians have been killed and 3,182 others injured in Ukraine since the war started on Feb. 24, according to UN estimates. The true toll is feared to be much higher.

So far, 7.7 million people in Ukraine have been internally displaced, with more than 5.3 million fleeing to other countries, according to the UN refugee agency.

* Writing by Gozde Bayar