Kyiv (dpa-AFX) – After the withdrawal of Russian troops, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj, a “mass grave” was found in the eastern Ukrainian city of Izyum in the Kharkiv region. “The necessary procedural actions have already begun there,” said the head of state in a video message distributed in Kyiv on Thursday. There should be more detailed information this Friday, said Selenskyj. Ukrainian media reported that more than 440 bodies were found in a forest.
According to Ukrainian information, the Russians fled the area on Saturday after a counter-offensive by Ukrainian forces. The Defense Ministry in Moscow had spoken of a “regrouping” of its troops, while even sources close to the Kremlin spoke of a devastating defeat. Zelenskyj visited Izyum on Wednesday. Journalists are to be taken to the mass grave this Friday. “We want the world to know what really happened and what the Russian occupation led to,” said Zelenskyy.
“Bucha, Mariupol and now, unfortunately, also Izyum: Russia leaves death everywhere and has to answer for it. The world must hold Russia to real responsibility for this war,” the head of state demanded. After the withdrawal of Russian troops in the spring from the Kiev suburb of Bucha and in numerous other places, including the port city of Mariupol, which was occupied by Moscow, Ukraine complained about the most serious war crimes.
According to Ukrainian authorities, hundreds of civilians were killed in Bucha and thousands in Mariupol. According to the Internet newspaper “Ukrajinska Pravda”, the head of the police investigation agency in the Kharkiv region, Serhiy Bolvynov, spoke of a mass grave with more than 440 bodies in a forest in Izyum./mau/DP/jha