Russian attack | More than 400 unmarked graves were found in Izjum, liberated by Ukraine

Foreign countries|Russian invasion

Kharkiv a burial site with hundreds of bodies has been found in the city of Izjum, located in the region, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine told the message service on Twitter the night before friday.

The Ministry of Defense talked about 440 bodies the night before Friday. On Friday morning, the president’s advisor Myhailo Podoljak said according to the news agency Reuters that there are about 450 graves.

The area’s leading police investigator Serhii Bolvinov according to Reuters, some of those buried were killed by artillery fire and some by airstrikes.

On Friday morning, it was not yet known whether among the buried there are dead people who have been subjected to war crimes by the Russian occupiers. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi promised “clear, verified information” in a video speech on Thursday evening by Friday.

Ukrainian In its tweet, the Ministry of Defense also talks about mass graves, but does not elaborate on the issue further. According to the tweet, the bodies found were buried in individual, unmarked graves.

A burial site with possible mass graves has been found in the town of Izjum in the Kharkiv region. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine published a photo of Ukrainian officials at the Izjum burial site. Picture: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine

Izjumin another burial site was also found near the city on Friday, where, according to eyewitnesses interviewed by the Reuters news agency, around 200 wooden crosses were found.

Zelenskyi compared the discovery to Russian war crimes against civilians near Kiev In Butša last spring.

“Russia is leaving behind death everywhere, and it must be held accountable,” Zelenskyi said late Thursday night in a video.

Thousands Russian soldiers fled the Izjum area last weekend. Russian troops left behind large amounts of ammunition and equipment.

Russia has not yet commented on the graves found in Izjum.

Statements by the Ukrainian authorities point to war crimes.

“Necessary measures have already been taken,” wrote the chief of staff of the Ukrainian presidential office Andriy Jermak on Twitter. “All bodies are sent for forensic examinations. Russia is a murderous state.”