Russian diplomats must be expelled from Australia to hold the Kremlin accountable for reported atrocities in Ukraine, the opposition leader says.
Anthony Albanese has renewed calls for the federal government to follow the lead of European countries which have already taken such a measure.
He says countries including France, Germany and Italy have taken steps to expel 206 Russian diplomats and staff, while allowing ambassadors to remain in most cases.
"It is hard to conceive how the decision can be made to allow these individuals to stay, given the sickening abuses being carried out by Russian forces," he said.
"The mass killing of innocent civilians and the use of rape as a weapon of war can only be described as war crimes."
Russia has denied targeting civilians during its retreat from towns like Bucha, but Ukrainian officials say between 150 and 300 bodies lay in a single mass grave by a church in the town.
Foreign Minister Marise Payne has previously resisted calls to expel diplomats from Australia and says the matter is being reviewed at the highest level of government.
On Wednesday, Ukraine's top diplomat in Australia, ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko, said there was no prospect of a peace deal between the Russians and Ukrainians in the foreseeable future.
"(Putin) is taking Russia to those last days of the Soviet Union when it was collapsing," he told Sky News.
"He's done so much damage for the country and I don't know when Russia will be able to repair that reputation."
