Mass grave discovered in Izium
KYIV: Ukrainian authorities have found a mass grave containing 440 bodies in the northeastern town of Izium that was recaptured from Russian forces days ago, officials said, including some people killed by shelling and air strikes.
Thousands of Russian troops fled Izium last weekend after occupying the city and using it as a logistics hub in the Kharkiv region. They left behind large amounts of ammunition and equipment.
‘‘Mass graves are being discovered in Izium after liberation from the [Russians]’’, with the largest burial site holding 440 unmarked graves, the Ukrainian defence ministry tweeted.
Serhiy Bolvinov, the police investigator for Kharkiv region, told Sky News: ‘‘Some died because of artillery fire . . . some died because of air strikes.’’
The Ukrainian reports could not be immediately and there was no immediate comment from Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who visited Izium this week, compared the discovery to alleged war crimes by Russian forces against civilians in Bucha, on the outskirts of the capital Kyiv, in the early stages of war.
‘‘Russia is leaving death behind it everywhere and must be held responsible,’’ Zelenskiy said in a video address yesterday.
Russia has denied targeting civilians or committing war crimes.
After a week of rapid Ukrainian gains in the northeast, Ukrainian officials said Russian forces were fortifying defences and it would be hard to maintain the pace of the advance.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has yet to comment publicly on the setback suffered by his forces this month. Ukrainian officials say 9000sq km have been retaken.
Reuters video from the eastern town of Kupiansk, a key supply hub which Ukrainian forces chief recaptured last week, showed many buildings had been damaged or burned out.
‘‘No electricity, no communications . . . if there were communications we could at least talk to family. If only there hadn’t been all this bombing with everyone in their basements,’’ one man said.
The speed of the advance has bolstered Ukrainian morale and given it some success to show its Western allies as it seeks more weapons to sustain its defence.
In Washington, US President Joe Biden announced a new $US600 million ($NZ1 billion) arms package to help Ukraine, including High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and artillery rounds. The United States has sent about $US15.1 billion dollars in security assistance to Kyiv since Russia’s February 24 invasion.
Russians forces shelled Kharkiv city and other towns in the region yesterday, Ukrainian officials said.
More than 90 missiles and artillery shells also targeted a region on the border with Russia, Dmytro Zhyvytsky, governor of Sumy region, said.
On the Russian side, Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of Russia’s Belgorod region, said the Ukrainian army shelled the town of Valuyki near the border.
‘‘Antiaircraft defences went into action but there is some destruction on the ground,’’ he said on Telegram. This included a power substation put out of commission and private homes and vehicles set on fire.
Reuters was not able to verify battlefield reports.
Pope Francis said it was morally legitimate for nations to supply weapons to Ukraine to help the country defend itself.
‘‘This is a political decision which it can be moral, morally acceptable, if it is done under conditions of morality,’’ Pope Francis told reporters while travelling from Kazakhstan.
The Pope also urged the Kyiv government to be open to eventual dialogue. — Reuters
❛ Russia is leaving death behind it everywhere and must be held responsible