Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Thursday evening the discovery of a “mass grave” in the city of Izyum, which his forces recaptured from the Russians a few days ago, as part of Ukrainian counterattack In the Kharkiv region in eastern Ukraine.
“We want the world to know what the Russian occupation has caused,” Zelensky said in his daily video message, without giving further details regarding the number of buried bodies or the causes that led to the death of these people.
open an investigation
He also referred to the opening of an investigation, and said, “We are supposed to receive more confirmed and clear information tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, Zelensky compared the city of Izyum with the cities of Bucha and Mariupol, which have become symbols of Russian atrocities in Ukraine.
Russia leaves death behind
“Russia is leaving death behind everywhere, and it must be held accountable for that,” the Ukrainian president said. “The world really must hold Russia accountable for this war. We will do everything we can for that to happen.”
In turn, Serhiy Polvinov, the chief police investigator in the Kharkiv region, explained that the cemetery that was found contained more than 440 bodies, adding that some of the bodies belonged to people killed in bombing and air strikes.
440 bodies
He also confirmed that each body will be subject to forensic examinations. He added, “I can say that it is one of the largest burial sites in a large town in the liberated areas…There are 440 bodies buried in one place.”
In addition, he indicated that some of the victims were killed by artillery fire, and others by air strikes.
Russian retreat
It is noteworthy that thousands of Russian soldiers withdrew from Izyum earlier this week, following the counter-attack launched by the Ukrainian forces to retake a number of areas in the Kharkiv region. It was able to control a number of strategic cities that are centers of supplying Russian forces with weapons, equipment and supplies.
This control of urban centers such as Kobyansk and Izyum constituted a blow to Russia’s ability to deliver supplies to its front-line positions in the east, which would greatly reduce Russian control over eastern Ukraine, following important progress made by Moscow last spring, before it Its progress is waning this summer, amid great international support for Kiev with advanced equipment and weapons.