Hundreds of bodies from mass grave Izhum | . “Clear Signs of Torture” Exhumed Abroad

Employees must uncover as many as 445 graves, then carefully search for clues that could identify the victims. Some bodies have ropes around their necks, or hands tied behind their backs. “All of this points to torture,” said Oleksandr Filchakov, the head of the Public Prosecution Service for the Kharkiv region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Reuters news agency he has evidence that many killed Ukrainians are buried in various places in recaptured parts of northeastern Ukraine. Entire families would have been tortured. He compares the atrocities with what was found this spring near Kiev, in the town of Butja, after the withdrawal of Russia.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also says that Russia is committing war crimes in Ukraine, and that the world must gather evidence so that perpetrators can be brought to justice. The reports about the mass cemetery at Izhum are a “horrible part of an ongoing story”, he said.

EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said he was deeply shocked by the mass graves. “We condemn these atrocities in the strongest possible terms. Russia, its political leaders and all those involved in the ongoing violations of international and humanitarian law in Ukraine will be held accountable,” he said.

Russia has declined to comment specifically on the mass cemetery in Izyum, but has denied targeting civilians. It claims that the allegations of human rights violations are a smear campaign.