Putin Reasserts Russia’s War For Eastern Ukraine, Denies Bucha Deaths

Russian President Vladimir Putin defended Russia's assault on Ukraine on Tuesday, the first time he has addressed the conflict since Moscow withdrew its forces from northern Ukraine after they were stopped at the gates of Kyiv. Putin's speech continued the shift of Russian goals to focus on the Oblasts of Donetsk and Luhansk in the Donbas. He also denied the charges of mass killings and executions of Ukrainian civilians in Bucha saying it is "the same fake as it was with chemical weapons in Syria." Putin made the denial despite many photos, videos, and on-the-ground reports corroborating the hundreds of deaths claimed by the Ukrainian government and human rights groups. Satellite photos dated March 19th – when the Russians were pulling out of Bucha – show the bodies of many civilians lying in the streets. Over 300 in Bucha alone are thought to have been killed in the alleged massacre. More bodies are being discovered as time goes on and as more mass graves are unearthed.