Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Thursday condemned “atrocities” attributed to Russian forces in the town of Borodianka, near kyiv, during a visit to Ukraine with his Danish counterpart.
“Shocked to see the horrors and atrocities of Putin’s war on the streets of Borodianka,” the socialist leader said in a post on his Twitter account, along with a video showing him walking through the ruined city alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
“We will not leave the Ukrainian people alone,” he added.
The bodies of nine civilians were found on Wednesday in Borodianka, some showing “signs of torture”, police in the Ukrainian capital announced overnight from Wednesday to Thursday.
Since the withdrawal of Russian forces three weeks ago from the kyiv region, hundreds of civilian bodies have been found by the Ukrainian authorities, who denounce with Westerners “war crimes” by Russian soldiers. An accusation rejected by Russia.
A Ukrainian official told AFP on Thursday that more than 1,000 civilian bodies were in morgues in the kyiv region.
Pedro Sánchez and Mette Frederiksen were due to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv during this visit. An appearance of the three in front of the press is then planned.
Spain took in 134,000 Ukrainians
The announcement of this trip by the Spanish leader, in the wake of other European leaders since the Russian invasion of February 24, was made on Tuesday but the Spanish government had not provided the exact date for security reasons.
On Wednesday, Mr. Sánchez had indicated that he would convey to the Ukrainian president, during this trip, “the unfailing, clear commitment of the European Union” and of Spain “for peace”.
Spain will continue to work for peace in Ukraine, but it will also continue to send “all necessary humanitarian aid and military aid”, while guaranteeing the “reception on our territory” of Ukrainian refugees, he said. said again.
Spain took in 134,000 Ukrainians, and 64,000 of them obtained temporary protection, including housing and work permits.
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Madrid has sent to Ukraine a dozen planes with on board “hundreds of tons” of weapons and humanitarian equipment, Defense Minister Margarita Robles said on Monday.
Another sign of Spain’s commitment to Ukraine, Pedro Sánchez announced on Monday the reopening “in a few days” of the Spanish embassy in kyiv, which had been closed the day after the start of the crisis. Russian offensive for security reasons.