Russian violence targeting Ukrainian civilians was 'something that was planned,' national security advisor Jake Sullivan says

Jake Sullivan, US national security advisor, said that Russia's violence against Ukrainian civilians was planned.

His comments come after footage from the area appeared to show indiscriminate killings of civilians and bodies lying in the streets.

The images that we have seen out of other cities have been terrible. Sullivan said on ABC News that they have not been surprising.

Before the war began, we declassified intelligence that showed a plan from the highest levels of the Russian government to target civilians who oppose the invasion, to cause violence against them, and to organize efforts to brutalize them.

—This Week (@ThisWeekABC) April 10, 2022

The bodies of hundreds of civilians were found following Russia's withdrawal, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Russian officials have claimed the massacre of civilians in Bucha was a hoax meant to frame the Russian military, but experts say their claims fall apart.

Sullivan said on Sunday that it was possible that Russian soldiers and military units became frustrated because the Ukrainians were beating them back.

Sullivan said that they were told they were going to have a glorious victory and just ride into Kyiv without any opposition.

Sullivan said the responsibility for the crimes lies with Putin.

Sullivan said that the larger issue of war crimes and atrocities in Ukraine lies at the feet of the Russian president.

Zelenskyy said in an interview on Friday that he had heard of Russian kill lists but did not have proof. Zelenskyy said that the lists existed in large cities like Cherson, where they were afraid of people who connected with each other and gathered in public places to demonstrate against the inhabitants.

Sullivan said in an interview on Sunday that the US envisions a future with Russia and Ukraine.