Some shot, others, including civilians, died from artillery fire, mines or airstrikes
Ukraine’s counteroffensive against Russian invaders uncovered more mass graves in Izium, a town of roughly 46,000 on the Donets River in Kharkiv Oblast of eastern Ukraine.
Note: Spellings for Ukraine’s president’s name vary with news outlet.
Ukrainian authorities were expected to begin recovering bodies Friday from a mass burial site in a forest recaptured from Russian forces, a delicate task that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said would help show the world “what the Russian occupation has led to.”
The site, containing hundreds of graves, was discovered close to Izium after a rapid counteroffensive by Ukrainian forces retook the northeastern city and much of the Kharkiv region, breaking what had largely become a stalemate in the nearly seven-month war.
Over 400 marked with numbered wooden crosses have been reported by Ukrainians and AP reporters. Witnesses say some were shot and others killed by artillery fire, mines, or air strikes. One mass grave may hold 17 or more Ukrainian soldiers. Individual markers found in Izium are different from other mass gave sites found during the war.
Izium resident Sergei Gorodko said that among the hundreds buried in individual graves were dozens of adults and children killed in a Russian airstrike on an apartment building.
He said he pulled some of them out of the rubble “with my own hands.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the discovery of a mass burial site (The Guardian):
Speaking in a video address on Thursday night, Zelenskiy called on the world to “hold Russia to real account for this war”.
“Russia leaves death everywhere and it must be held responsible for that,” he declared. “The necessary procedures have already begun [in Izium]”.
More “clear, verifiable information” should be available later on Friday, he said, inviting the international media to visit the scene.
Video from Izium showed a sandy pine forest dotted with graves. Wooden crosses marked the locations. One handwritten sign read: “Ukraine armed forces, 17 people, Izium city, [taken] from morgue.” A few listed numbers – 345, 347, 444. Others had no inscriptions.
In his address, Zelenskyy invoked the killings in Bucha, on the outskirts of the capital Kyiv, where Ukrainians found bodies of civilians lying in the streets in early April after Russian soldiers withdrew. He also referenced the southern port city of Mariupol, where Ukraine says tens of thousands of civilians probably died in the Russian assault and prolonged siege.
“Bucha, Mariupol, now, unfortunately, Izyum. … Russia leaves death everywhere. And it must be held accountable for it. The world must bring Russia to real responsibility for this war,” he said.
Russia has denied targeting civilians or committing war crimes.
The U.S has authorized another $600 million in military aid for Ukraine that includes ammunition for the HIMARS multi-rocket launchers that have played a key role on the battlefield since their deployment. Ukraine struck the occupied Kherson region “at least five times on Friday” using the missiles, Newsweek reports. One strike hit an administative building where Russian officials were holding a meeting.
Zelensky’s visit to the front is another reason Ukrainian morale remains high, reports CNN. “Russian President Vladimir Putin is uusally hundreds of miles away in Moscow when he gives out medals.”
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