London: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has visited three war-torn cities in the Kyiv region of Ukraine, the international news agency Reuters reported.
Local Governor Oleksiy Kuleba wrote in Telegram that Albanese visited the cities of Bucha, Irpin and Hostomel, where Ukraine says Russia committed atrocities against civilians. Russia denies the allegations.
Anthony Albanese, photographed with Ukrainian officials in an aircraft hangar, saw first-hand the devastation of the Russian war. Credit: Oleksiy Kuleba / Telegram
“Australia supports Ukraine and wants justice to be done for the crimes committed here,” Kuleba said citing Albanese.
Journalists traveling with Albanese to Kyiv have been turned off for security reasons, but it has been confirmed that a small Australian delegation left Paris on Saturday evening AEST was heading to Poland.
The Telegram publication said Albanese, on his first trip to Ukraine, was “surprised by what he saw”, including destroyed civilian houses, mine tracks and the destroyed Antonov airport.
Anthony Albanese visited the war-torn municipalities of Bucha, Gostomel and Irpen outside Kyiv on Sunday evening (Australian time). Credit: Oleksiy Kuleba / Telegram
Kuleba said he was grateful to the delegation for their personal visit to the Kyiv region.
“The war in Ukraine, in central Europe, must remain on the world agenda,” he said.
The Australian Prime Minister is expected to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who personally invited him to visit him in a letter last month congratulating the Prime Minister on his election victory.