Ukrainian Police Find 440 Mass Graves In Izyum, President Zelensky: Russia Must Be Held Accountable

Destruction in Izyum City, Ukraine. (Twitter/@MFA_Ukraine)

JAKARTA - Another mass grave has been found in Ukrainian territory left behind by Russian troops, with the latest including some 440 graves, according to a top police officer.

The mass grave is said to have been found east of Izyum City. Serhii Bolvinov, chief police investigator for the Kharkiv region, told Sky News as quoted September 16 that all the bodies would be exhumed and taken for forensic examination.

"I can say that there is one of the largest cemeteries in a liberated city, which contains more than 440 graves. About 440 bodies are buried in one place," he said.

It was said to be part of a major effort by the police, along with prosecutors and other investigators, to gather evidence of alleged Russian war crimes.

Bolvinov said the bodies had been buried individually at a makeshift site.

"We know that some died (shot dead), some died from artillery fire, the so-called mine blast trauma. Some died from air strikes. We also have information that many bodies have not been identified. So the reason for death will be determined during the investigation," he explained. the alleged cause of death of those buried there.

Police officers were also aware of a number of other burial sites since they began investigating what crimes had been committed in swaths of the Kharkiv region, which had been under Russian control for months but is now back in Ukrainian hands, Bolvinov said.

"To me, it is shocking and appalling and this is a crime against humanity. It should not be like this in a civilized world in 2022.

"This is a very horrendous and unpleasant story from any angle. I am sure the crime will definitely be punished."

Separately, President Volodymyr Zelensky blamed Russia and likened the discovery to what happened in Bucha, a suburb of the Kyiv capital in the early stages of the late February invasion by Russian troops.

Ukraine and its Western allies accuse Russian troops of committing war crimes there.

"Russia leaves death everywhere and must be held accountable," President Zelensky said in a video speech.

Russia has repeatedly denied targeting civilians or having committed war crimes during what it calls special military operations in Ukraine.