People react as they gather close to a mass grave in town of Bucha, just northwest of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv
(Picture: AFP via Getty Images)A Russian artist has reenacted the way Ukrainian civilians were found dead with their hands tied behind their back as troops left the besieged town of Bucha.
For the “Bucha-Moscow” performance art piece, the unknown activist bound his hands and led down playing dead at tourist hotspots across the Russian capital.
He was photographed lying down at the Bridge at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Nikolskaya Street, Old Arbat and Alexandrovsky garden.
"Bucha-Moscow" art performance
— Mikhail Khodorkovsky (English) (@mbk_center) April 5, 2022
The activist lays in Moscow' centre with his hands tied behind his back - position, in which dead civilians were found in the suburbs of Kyiv
Bridge at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour
Nikolskaya Street
Old Arbat
Alexandrovsky garden@holodmedia pic.twitter.com/v7sYiKu9Ku
The piece referred to the discovery of at least 410 civilians in the town of Bucha, near Kyiv, and other areas since Russian forces retreated from around the capital and parts of northern Ukraine.
Russian independent site Holod.media posted the protest photos on their Twitter feed.
The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said some of the appalling war crimes committed by Russian troops had not been seen “even during the Nazi occupation 80 years ago”.
Mr Zelensky visited Bucha on Monday where some civilians were found with their hands tied behind their back and with a gunshot to the back of the head, , evidence that they were executed.
Some of the individuals had signs of having been tortured.
Mass graves were also discovered, as were several bodies of women on one road.
The Kremlin, which previously denied any invasion of Ukraine was planned, now claims the killings were faked as part of Ukrainian and western propaganda.
But satellite footage shows bodies lying in the streets before the Russian troops withdrew, with some of the killings believed to have taken place three weeks ago.
Mr Zelensky called for the “most complete, transparent investigation” into the war crimes being committed.
He accused the Kremlin of spreading “lies” and “distorting the facts” about the atrocities.
However, he added: “They will not succeed. They will not be able to deceive the whole world.
“The time will come when every Russian will learn the whole truth about who of their fellow citizens killed. Who gave orders. Who turned a blind eye to the murders. We will establish all this. And make it globally known.”
