Top EU officials visit Ukrainian town of Bucha, capital Kyiv

By Selen Temizer

BRUSSELS (AA) - Two top EU officials on Friday visited Ukraine’s capital Kyiv and the town of Bucha.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Twitter stated that she was in Bucha along with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.

"It was important to start my visit in Bucha. Because in Bucha our humanity was shattered. My message to Ukrainian people: Those responsible for the atrocities will be brought to justice. Your fight is our fight. I’m in Kyiv today to tell you that Europe is on your side," Von der Leyen said on Twitter.

Borrell also stated that he was with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal during his visit.

"We bear witness to harrowing images in #Bucha today with Prime Minister @Denys_Shmyhal Destruction, atrocities committed by Russia & the unspeakable price paid by innocent Ukrainian people. The #WarCrimes Russia committed in Bucha & elsewhere must be investigated+prosecuted," he said on Twitter.

He also said the EU Advisory Mission in Ukraine will be supporting the Ukrainian Prosecutor General in providing training and equipment to support investigation and collection of evidence.

"I am also launching a project worth €7.5 million ($8.16 million) to support data collection of missing persons," Borell added.

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

Russia has rejected the allegations as a "fake news attack," arguing that the images that have drawn global outrage were staged after Russian forces withdrew from the city.