India condemned the killing of civilians in Bucha, a suburb of the Ukrainian capital Khiu (Kyiv), on 5 May, and called for an independent investigation to be conducted. India has so far refrained from criticising Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Tirumurti, told a Security Council meeting that 'the reports of civilian killings in Bucha are indeed tragic' and that he 'unequivocally condemns these killings and supports the call for an independent investigation'.

Earlier, US Secretary of State Blinken held telephone discussions with Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar. The US has repeatedly urged India to condemn Russia's military aggression.

India, which is heavily dependent on Russian military equipment, has called for a cessation of violence in Ukraine, but has abstained from voting on UN resolutions over the war in Ukraine, out of concern for its relations with both Russia and the West.

[New Delhi, Reuters].