Russia-Ukraine war: Mass grave of slaughtered Ukrainian civilians found near Kyiv
Russia-Ukraine war: Mass grave of slaughtered Ukrainian civilians found near Kyiv
A grave with dozens of Ukrainians citizens has been discovered in Buzova, a village near Kyiv, as locals in the east of the country are urged to flee a new Russian offensive.
Head of the Dmytrivka community, Taras Didych told Ukrainian television that the dead bodies were found in a ditch near a petrol pump.
"Now, we are returning to life, but during the occupation we had our 'hotspots', many civilians died," Didych said.
The number of dead bodies discovered in the grave in Buzova, which for weeks was inhabited by Russian military, was yet to be confirmed. The report was not able to be immediately corroborated with local officials.
The dead bodies discovered in the graves appeared to be dressed in a mix of civilian and military attire.
One distressed woman was seen looking down into the manhole before breaking down. As she clawed at the earth she cried" "my son, my son".
As Russian military were engaged in an offensive against Kyiv in the first weeks of Russia's invasion, many communities adjoining the capital, including Makariv, Bucha, Irpin and Dmytrivka remained under constant shelling.
Earlier, a local media reported casualties found in and near Buzova, with about 30 dead bodies discovered at the time.
With a number of towns and villages around Kyiv now seized back, discoveries of mass graves and civilian casualties have triggered a wave of international condemnation, particularly over deaths in the town of Bucha.
On Saturday, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that while the threat to Kyiv had retreated, Ukraine was gearing up for a tough battle with Russian military gathering in the east of the country.
Ukrainian officials have called on people living in the east of Ukraine to run away, as an eight-mile long Russian convoy was spotted making its way towards the country. The renewed ambush marks a new phase in the war.
Images from space showed the mass of military vehicles and artillery travelling in the direction of the eastern part of Ukraine.
Maxar technologies took the satellite images which displayed the heavy military build-up as it made its way through Velykyi Burluk.
Following fierce resistance from Ukraine, Russian military pulled back from around Kyiv last week and are believed to be regrouping for a new Donbas offensive.
Yesterday it was revealed that Russia is making an attempt to expand its depleted army with retired soldiers, having suffered almost 20,000 deaths.
It is thought to be recruiting soldiers from Moldova, which has been classified as an occupied area of Russia by the Council of Europe.
Ukrainian President Zelensky has issued a warning to the world that Russia's use of violence was a “catastrophe that will inevitably hit everyone.”
Thus far, as per Iryena Venediktova Ukraine ’s Prosecutor General, Kyiv authorities have discovered as many as 500 war crime suspects, along with 5,600 alleged war crimes.