Russia denies human rights abuse allegations

Moscow’s UN ambassador insisted Russian forces did not harm any civilians while they controlled the city of Bucha outside of Kyiv. In an address to the UN Security Council on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported at least 410 civilians were tortured, bound, raped, and killed in what he called the worst atrocities in Europe since World War II. Independent media have verified many of these claims. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the reports are “more than credible” and indicate a deliberate campaign to target civilians.

How have world leaders responded? The EU proposed a coal import ban, the first time the bloc would sanction Russia’s energy industry, which nets roughly $4.4 billion per year. Britain has frozen $350 billion of “Putin’s war chest,” blocking more than 60 percent of Russia’s currency reserves. President Joe Biden is expected to announce bans on new investment and increased sanctions on Russian elites and financial institutions Wednesday. As of Tuesday, more than 200 Russian diplomats had been expelled from a dozen countries. There has been no progress in ongoing talks between Ukraine and Russia, but Zelenskyy said he has no choice but to negotiate.

Dig deeper: Read WORLD’s latest coverage of the war.