Unusual, This Russian Company Leader Dare To Call For An Unbiased Investigation In The Bucha Tragedy

Illustration of conditions in Bucha, Ukraine. (Wikimedia Commons/President.gov.ua)

JAKARTA - The chairman of Russian aluminum giant Rusal, calling for an impartial investigation into the killing of civilians in the Ukrainian city of Bucha, which he described as a crime, urged an end to the "civil-killing" conflict.

The call from Bernard Zonneveld, who is a Dutch citizen, does not mention who is to blame for the deaths of civilians in the city. However, it is not uncommon for a large Russian company to comment publicly on the conflict.

Ukraine and some Western governments have accused Moscow of war crimes after the bodies of civilians shot at close range were found in the city of Bucha, following the withdrawal of Russian troops.

The Kremlin denied its forces were responsible for the deaths, saying on Tuesday Western accusations of Russian troops committing war crimes were a "terrible fabrication."

Meanwhile, Zonneveld himself said he was shocked by reports from the city.

"We support an objective and impartial investigation into this crime and call for severe punishment for the perpetrators," he said, cited from Reuters, April 8.

"We all hope that this fratricidal conflict ends soon, which is destroying lives, families and entire cities. And we want those responsible for such crimes to be properly punished."

To note, last month the founder of Rusal Oleg Deripaska expressed his personal opinion, that the conflict in Ukraine is insanity that will shame future generations.

Deripaska, who has been sanctioned by the United States and Britain, did not explicitly blame the conflict, but said both the United States and Russia had sharpened their rhetoric.