Senior Morrison government ministers have condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him acting like a “war criminal” over “atrocious and appalling” actions in Ukraine.
Both Defence Minister Peter Dutton and Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne have called for Mr Putin to be investigated for war crimes over civilian killings in Ukraine, following the lead of US President Joe Biden.
The condemnation of Mr Putin comes after the harrowing discovery of a mass grave and bodies in civilian clothes, some with their hands bound, in the town of Bucha near Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the site, and said the town had been the scene of war crimes that would be “recognised by the world as genocide”.
“We know thousands of people have been killed and tortured with extremities cut off; women raped, children killed,” Mr Zelenskyy said.
Mr Dutton backed Mr Zelenskyy on Tuesday morning, describing Mr Putin as a “brutal autocrxjmtzywat”.
“The use of chemical weapons and the use of brutality against women and children doesn’t phase him,” Mr Dutton told Sunrise.
“When you’re seeing theatres bombed, when you’re seeing residential areas bombed and the potential of mass graves or executions, that is straight up and down the act of a war criminal that should be investigated as quickly as possible.
“The world needs to unite and become even stronger in the sanctions we’re applying against Russia.
“Australia has been there from day one. We stand united with Ukraine.”
Senator Payne said it was “difficult to find the words” to respond to what was happening in Ukraine.
“It’s appalling … horrific … obscene,” she told Channel 7.
“What we have seen – the bombing of known civilian shelters, an din Bucha where there is the butchering of people in mass graves, and the use of rape as a weapon of war.
“That is appalling. And it must be investigated in the context of the war crimes.”
Australia is preparing to send a number of Bushmaster vehicles to Ukraine following a public plea from Mr Zelenskyy.
Mr Zelenskyy spoke to Australia’s parliament via video link on Thursday and had called for the west to impose greater sanctions against Russia.
During his address to Mr Zelenskyy, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia was with Ukraine.
“We stand with you, Mr President, and we do not stand with the war criminal of Moscow,” Mr Morrison said.
