The Bucha massacre has precipitated the global crisis. India must navigate it with a level head
For the first time in the ongoing episode of Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine, which has been continuing since February 24, both India and China have expressed concern over the “deeply disturbing” civilian massacre in Bucha, a suburb of capital Kyiv, and joined the international chorus for an independent probe into the incident. Though China did not condemn the killings, it described the images emanating from Bucha as “very disturbing” and called upon all sides to exercise restraint while avoiding “unfounded accusations”. Seeking to keep intact its cordiality with Russia, which it has refused to criticise in spite of the latter’s actions in Ukraine, it said blame should not be apportioned before ‘truth’ is verified. Beijing has instead blamed Washington and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) for provoking the war and subsequently fuelling the conflict by sending arms to Ukraine. The bodies of 410 civilians have been removed from Bucha, the neighbouring towns of Hostomel and Irpin and smaller villages around Kyiv — and the count appears far from over. However, Russia describes the images of mass graves and brutalised bodies strewn on the streets as “monstrous forgery”.
For its part, India has publicly censured the action blamed on Russian forces for the first time after photographic and video material of the massacre emerged on April 1 when Russian forces withdrew from the city. Though its condemnation stopped short of blaming Russia for the bestiality, New Delhi’s demand for an independent probe is significant as Moscow battles global indignation. However, when the 10th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Ukraine takes place, which is likely today, there is every possibility that India will still abstain though it’s equally unlikely that Moscow will be happy with an Indian abstention. India has already abstained from voting on the matter nine times in the past and this stance enabled it to buy safe passage for over 22,500 Indians stuck in Ukraine. Also, it is now buying nearly 10 million tonnes of crude from Russia at a discounted rate of $20 per barrel. The crisis, however, is being increasingly felt beyond the region with rising food and energy costs, especially for the developing countries. So India must keep its head level and its own national interests supreme, disregarding such comments as Joe Biden’s “somewhat shaky” remark.