Selenskyj speaks of a "mass grave" in Izyum

Created: 09/16/2022Updated: 09/16/2022, 00:16

According to Ukrainian sources, more than 400 bodies were discovered in a mass grave near Izyum.

© Evgeniy Maloletka/AP/dpa

The Ukrainian head of state Zelenskyj blames Russia for an alleged mass grave in eastern Ukraine.

According to Ukrainian sources, there are more than 400 bodies.

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a "mass grave" was found in the eastern Ukrainian city of Izyum in the Kharkiv region after the withdrawal of Russian troops.

"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.

Russian troops flee the area

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," Zelensky said.

Zelenskyy: "Russia leaves death everywhere"

“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.

dpa