According to a regional police official on Thursday, September 15, Ukrainian authorities have discovered a mass grave containing more than 440 bodies in the eastern city of Izium, which they recently retook from Russian forces. The official added that some of the victims were killed by airstrikes and shelling.
According to Serhiy Bolvinov, the head police investigator for the Kharkiv region, told Sky News that every body will undergo a forensic investigation.
“I can say it is one of the largest burial sites in a big town in liberated (areas)… 440 bodies were buried in one place,” Bolvinov said.
“Some died because of artillery fire … some died because of air strikes,” he said.
The finding comes after a strong counteroffensive by Ukrainian forces last weekend forced thousands of Russian troops to flee Izium.
According to president Volodimir Zelensky, Ukraine has recaptured 8000 km of territory from Russian soldiers since the beginning of the month.
Zelensky responded to the mass graves’ discovery by blaming Russia and drawing comparisons between it and the early phases of the Russian invasion of Kyiv in late February, when Bucha was located nearby.
The Russian military there have been charged with committing war crimes, according to Ukraine and its Western allies.
Russia has always denied that it commits war crimes or targets civilians.
“Russia is leaving death behind it everywhere and must be held responsible,” Zelensky said in a video address on Thursday night, September 15.
