Bodies exhumed from mass burial site in Ukraine's Izyum

Ukrainian forensic experts have so far exhumed 146 bodies from a mass burial site near the northeastern city of Izyum, which was recently recaptured from Russian forces, news agencies have reported, citing the regional governor.

Ukrainian forensic experts have so far exhumed 146 bodies, mostly civilians, at a mass burial site near the northeastern city of Izyum recently recaptured from Russian forces, according to the regional governor.

Photo: EPA/SERGEY KOZLOV

President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that some 450 bodies, mostly civilians, are believed to have been buried at the site in a forest on the outskirts of Izyum, the Reuters news agency reported.

Regional governor Oleh Synehubov was cited as saying on Monday that the exhumed bodies included two children.

"Some of the dead have signs of a violent death," Synehubov wrote on the Telegram messaging app, as quoted by Reuters.

He added: "There are bodies with tied hands and traces of torture. The deceased were also found to have explosive, shrapnel and stab wounds."

Most of the bodies exhumed in #Izium belonged to civilians

The head of the #Kharkiv regional military administration Oleg Sinegubov said that the dead have signs of violent death, there are bodies with their hands tied and signs of torture. pic.twitter.com/Oz9qvv9DTC

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) September 19, 2022

Ukraine's Zelensky said last week: “Bucha, Mariupol, now, unfortunately, Izyum... Russia leaves death everywhere. And it must be held accountable for that.”

34,000 war crimes of Russians have already been documented in Ukraine

According to Prosecutor General Andrei Kostin, the crimes committed by Russians in the Kharkiv region, in particular in the city of Izium, are now a priority in the investigation.

📰 Prosecutor General Office pic.twitter.com/HrWF8UxPww

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) September 19, 2022

Tuesday is day 209 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

(gs)

Source: PAP, Reuters, ukrinform.net