A far eastern Russian military unit suspected of committing war crimes in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha was awarded an honorary title by Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
The 64th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade is a motorized infantry brigade and is based at Knyaze-Volkonskoye, near Khabarovsk. It’s part of the Eastern Military District’s 35th Army.
Ukrainian state news agency Ukrinform published the link to the relevant document awarding the unit and CNN reported that Putin signed a letter on April 18 congratulating the suspected war criminals for “great heroism and courage” and “protecting Russia’s sovereignty.”
Earlier this month, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said the Russian 64th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade had committed war crimes during the occupation of Bucha, a northwestern suburb of Kyiv.
Russian forces had retreated from the surrounding area by April 1.
Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting on agriculture via a video link at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow on April 5, 2022. (Photo by Mikhail KLIMENTYEV / SPUTNIK / AFP)
On April 19, Ukrainian authorities said at least 1,200 civilians had been killed in the Kyiv region as the exhumation of bodies continue. More than 400 bodies have been found in Bucha so far.
Most civilian corpses have been found with gunshot wounds, and some with signs of torture and sexual violence before their execution.
Putin ordered a renewed invasion of the neighboring country on Feb. 24 in what is the biggest war on the European continent since World War II.
