PM Jacinda Ardern responds to claims made by our Russian embassy that alleged war crimes in Ukraine are a hoax. Video / Mark Mitchell
Russia's Embassy in New Zealand has used its Facebook page to say that alleged war crimes uncovered in parts of Ukraine are a "hoax".
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern warned against "disinformation emanating from social media", after the posts were publicised.
New Zealand's Government and Opposition have both aligned with Ukrainian accounts of atrocities, with Ardern saying the reported crimes were "beyond reprehensible".
"Russia must answer to the world for what they've done," Ardern said. This week, Ardern faced renewed calls to expel Russia's ambassador.
On Monday, the Russian Embassy's Facebook page alleged that all "photos and videos published by the Kiev regime allegedly testifying to some "crimes" committed by Russian servicemen in Bucha, Kiev region are just another provocation".
The post went on to allege that "not a single local resident has suffered from any violent action" in Bucha while it was under Russian occupation.
Multiple foreign media outlets have subsequently visited Bucha and recorded evidence of what appear to be civilians who were murdered by Russian troops. They have photographed bodies dumped on the side of the road, hands tied, apparently executed by Russian troops. Accounts of survivors have alleged Ukrainian women were raped by Russian troops.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy examines the site of many of the atrocities in Bucha close to Kyiv. Photo / AP
One post went into graphic detail in an attempt to discredit Ukraine's account of events. The post said the bodies were not sufficiently stiffened, and "have no typical cadaver stains, and the wounds contain unconsumed blood", and must therefore be fake.
The embassy made two subsequent posts. One linked to a website which alleged "people's minds are manipulated" by fake images, another was a video of Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia denying the allegations of war crimes.
"The Russian military has [done] nothing of what it is accused of," Nebenzia said in the post.
"We have evidence that proves this point and we plan to present it to the Security Council as soon as possible," he said.
The Government is convinced Russia needs to answer to the allegations made against it.
Alongside other nations, New Zealand has referred the case to the International Criminal Court.
Ardern said there was "certainly evidence" of war crimes, including images outside the public domain shared with her by Ukrainian counterparts.
"Clearly, there is no doubt. But we are working very hard and making a contribution to the international efforts to gather the evidence required to see this through the International Criminal Court.
"Many of us have seen some of the images. I have seen some myself that are outside of the public domain and, it again reinforces to me the importance of New Zealand's efforts to ensure that Russia is held to account through the International Criminal Court.
"There is certainly evidence of what you've seen many leaders describing as war crimes, indiscriminate killing of civilians, reports of civilians being raped."
Ardern has so far refused to expel Russia's ambassador to New Zealand. On Monday, she appeared open to the idea that she might do so in the future.
"New Zealand has had this raft of options in front of us—as has every other country—around diplomatic tools," Ardern said.
"To be honest, my view is that we have used far more powerful tools to date whilst of course keeping on the table those other diplomatic options," she said.
She said that expelling the ambassador would mean New Zealand also losing representation in Russia, which could pose problems.
National leader Christopher Luxon repeated his call to expel Russia's ambassador.
"That was one of the things we talked about from day one to say we think that sends a really strong signal," Luxon said.
"We said on day one that the time for diplomacy was over, it was finished and there was no intention for diplomatic resolution to this and you have continued to see that over the last month.
