'Horrifying' images coming out of Ukraine, says Turkiye

By Zehra Nur Duz

ANKARA (AA) – Turkiye on Wednesday called images coming out of Ukraine's cities, including Bucha and Irpin, as “horrifying and regrettable for humanity.”

“We share the pain of the Ukrainian people," a Turkish Foreign Ministry statement said.

"The targeting of innocent civilians is never acceptable. It is our basic expectation that the matter will be subject to an independent investigation and those responsible will be identified and held accountable," the ministry added.

"Turkiye will continue to work to end such shameful scenes for humanity and to ensure peace as soon as possible," the statement concluded.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Moscow are facing even more vehement criticism from the international community after Ukraine accused Russian forces of committing “genocide” and “war crimes” in Bucha, a town near the capital Kyiv.

Russia has rejected the allegations as a “fake news attack,” arguing that the images of bodies and footage of slain civilians that have drawn global outrage were staged after Russian forces withdrew from the city.

According to UN estimates, at least 1,480 civilians have been killed and 2,195 injured in Ukraine since Feb. 24, with the true figure feared to be far higher.

More than 4.24 million Ukrainians have fled to other countries, while over 7.1 million more are internally displaced, according to the UN refugee agency.