The Russian president gave an honorary degree to a brigade of the Russian army accused by Ukraine of the Boutcha massacre.
The Russian President on Monday bestowed an honorary title for “heroism” on the 64th Motorized Rifle Brigade, which Ukraine has accused of complicity in the abuses committed in Boutcha near Kyiv.
According to the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin signed a decree giving this brigade the “honorary title of ‘Guards'” because of the “heroism and tenacity, determination and courage” of its men.
Russia denounces a staging
“The skillful and resolute actions of all (brigade) personnel during the special military operation in Ukraine are a paragon of fulfillment of military duties, courage, determination and high professionalism,” Putin wrote to the military. The Kremlin does not say where these men are or were stationed, or specify their missions.
Ukraine has accused the Russian army, and in particular the 64th brigade in question, of carrying out a massacre of civilians in Boutcha, which was discovered after Russian soldiers withdrew on March 30. Russia denies and blames the Ukrainian authorities and Western media for orchestrating the massacre or the Ukrainian armed forces for committing it, accusing Moscow of doing so.