As the invasion of Ukraine rages on, anger is growing among its allies at the reported behaviour of Russian troops.
The US was unequivocal on Friday. “It’s brutality of the coldest and the most depraved sort,” John Kirby, a defence department spokesman, told reporters.
“I don’t think we fully appreciated the degree to which [Putin] would visit that kind of violence and cruelty… on innocent people, ” he said.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier said there was a high chance the actions of Russia’s military could derail peace talks. He has repeatedly accused Moscow of war crimes.
Russia denies those accusations, and its Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov blamed the stalling talks on Kyiv’s desire to “constantly play games”.
So the war of words is continuing – and it would appear any resolution to this conflict is some way off.
Given the anger at Russia’s behaviour on the ground, it’s worth considering some of the allegations we’ve heard.
Our reporter Joel Gunter spoke to Ukrainian Nikita Horban who was abducted from his village and taken across the border to Russia. He would come back without any toes.
