More bodies were found in the Sumy region in northeastern Ukraine. Authorities say the number is increasing by the day and some of them show signs of torture.
“There are more than 100 dead among the civilians in the Sumy region. Unfortunately, this number is growing every day,” Dmytro Zhyvytskyi, head of Sumy regional military administration.
“A lot of people found dead with their hands tied with the signs of tortures, shot in the head,” he added.
Zhyvytskyi alleged “there are people who are held captive and there are daily negotiations for them to be exchanged or set free. A lot of people whose fate remains unknown as of today.”
Sumy saw widespread damage in the early days of the Russian invasion, with several confrontations between civilians and Russian soldiers in the region.
Meanwhile, in the US, Biden made it clear he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin is committing genocide but said he would “let the lawyers decide” to use that designation internationally.
“It sure seems that way to me,” Biden said. He cited mounting evidence over the past week for his determination, saying it had become “clearer and clearer that Putin is just trying to wipe out the idea of even being able to be Ukrainian.”
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the legal process for determining whether genocide was underway would proceed. She added that Biden was voicing his views as the US president, not just a personal stance.
“He’s the President of the United States and the leader of the free world and he is allowed to make his views known at any point he would like,” she went on, adding later: “I think we shouldn’t misunderstand who he is and where he stands on the totem pole, which is at the top.”