The Russian military has buried more than 200 Ukrainian civilians in a mass grave outside the besieged city of Mariupol, a series of satellite photos released by the American Civil Intelligence and Satellite Company "Axer" revealed tonight (Thursday).
The photos show a long swimming pool about 300 meters long in the town near Mariupol, where the last Ukrainian forces are fortified.
Additional photographs showed Russian army forces operating near the pit.
The photos were taken between March 23 and 29, as the rate of civilian casualties in the city skyrocketed.
Experts estimate that at least 200 civilians were buried by Russian soldiers at the site.
It is not clear whether these are civilians killed by the bombings or during the fierce fighting in the city, or civilians captured and executed by Russian military forces, such as in the town of Bocha near the capital Kyiv.
Ruins Islands: A hovering view of the city of Mariupol after a month and a half of fighting
Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a sub-order defining the 64th Mechanized Infantry Brigade as a guard unit, or "Guardia" unit, a badge of honor awarded to units that performed heroic deeds in the Russian military.
According to reports in Ukraine, the brigade is the main unit that participated in the massacre in Bocha last month, during which more than 500 civilians were killed and buried in mass graves in various parts of the town.
According to some testimonies, the Russian soldiers walked around with a list of names, abducted civilians who were considered supporters of the Ukrainian government and shot them and their families.
Dozens of rapes have been reported in the town, and in at least one case the acts ended in the murder of the women and in an attempt to burn their bodies.
"It is gratitude and respect for the heroic deeds, the unique fighting spirit and the moral virtue you have shown for the courage you have shown in defending the homeland. You have maintained Russia's sovereignty and integrity and defended its national interests," the Russian president wrote to the brigade.
A building in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol that was destroyed after an attack by the Russian army (archive), Photo: Reuters
Were we wrong?
Fixed!
If you found an error in the article, we'll be happy for you to share it with us