A burial site was found to contain at least 450 graves near the eastern city of Izyum, which Ukranian forces captured from retreating Russian forces, a senior presidential aide told Agence France-Presse. 

The aide, Mykhaylo Podolyak,  posted a photograph on social media of rows of wooden crosses on top of recently dug mounds in a wooded area along with the allegations. 

Podolyak’s statement comes after Ukraine President Voldymyr Zelensky made an evening address stating that a “mass grave” had been discovered near Izyum.

“Four hundred and fifty
graves… This is just one of the mass burial sites discovered near
Izyum. In the occupied territories, rampant terror, violence, torture
and mass murders have been reigning for months,” Mykhaylo Podolyak said.

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“Four hundred and fifty graves… This is just one of the mass burial sites discovered near Izyum. In the occupied territories, rampant terror, violence, torture and mass murders have been reigning for months,” Mykhaylo Podolyak told AFP.

However, he did not provide details regarding the number of bodies discovered or whether the people in the graves were civilians or military personnel. Podolyak did not clarify the cause of the deaths either. 

Ever since Russia launched the “special operation”, invading Ukraine in February, the country has been accused of committing war crimes in the region. There have been accusations that Russia has committed war crimes in towns which are close to the capital city of Kyiv.

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In March, dozens of civilians with signs of extrajudicial killings were discovered in places like Bucha, which is close to the capital. The region was recaptured by the Ukrainian armed forces that month. 

Since then, Russia has been on the backfoot, slowly but steadily losing ground in Ukraine. The capture of Izyum and territory within the Kharkiv region has not only dealt a blow to Russia’s ambitions to capture and hold the Donbas region, but has also triggered backlash back home.