Most of those buried in a mass grave discovered in the eastern Ukrainian city of Izium are civilians, Ukraine’s police chief said on Friday, based on a preliminary estimate.
Authorities said they found a mass grave containing 450 bodies in Izium, a former stronghold on the Russian frontline, and said this was evidence of war crimes committed by the invaders. Russia has not commented publicly on the matter.
Asked whether the mass grave contained mostly civilians or soldiers, Police Chief Ihor Klymenko told a press conference: “As a preliminary estimate, civilians. Although we have information that there are troops there, we have not recovered any.”
city retaken
Izium was the target of intense Russian artillery attacks in April. The city, which is close to the border between the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions, became an important center for the invading military during five months of occupation.
Ukrainian forces regained control of the city on Saturday, dealing a strategic blow to Russia’s military attack in the east.
Zelensky visited Izium on Wednesday and told journalists he was “shocked” by the number of “destroyed buildings” and “dead people” left after the Russian occupation.
Moscow was using Izium as a launch pad for attacks south into the Donetsk and Kupyansk region, some 30 miles north of Izium, and as a rail hub to resupply its forces.
(With input from CNN’s Jonny Hallam and Brad Lendon; writing by Gareth Jones)
Source: CNN Brasil
I’m James Harper, a highly experienced and accomplished news writer for World Stock Market. I have been writing in the Politics section of the website for over five years, providing readers with up-to-date and insightful information about current events in politics. My work is widely read and respected by many industry professionals as well as laymen.
