Serhii Bolvinov, the chief police investigator for the Kharkiv region, said all the bodies would be exhumed and taken for forensic examination as part of a major police effort, along with prosecutors and other investigators, to gather evidence of suspected Russian war crimes . He said the bodies had been buried individually in the makeshift area. Putin’s forces may have ‘advantages’ after Kharkiv pullout – Ukraine war live updates Image: Suburbs of the city of Izyum in eastern Ukraine. Image file Police also knew of a number of other burial sites since they began investigating what crimes had been committed in areas of the Kharkiv region that had spent months under Russian control but are now back in Ukrainian hands, Mr. Bolvinov said. Speaking about the Izyum site, the chief researcher said, “I can say that there is one of the largest burials in a liberated city, which contains more than 440 graves. About 440 bodies were buried in one place.” Image: Izyum is located on territory recently reclaimed from Ukraine Asked if he could say how the victims died, he replied: “We know some were killed [shot dead], some died from artillery fire, so-called mine blast injuries. Some died due to airstrikes. We also have information that many bodies have yet to be identified. So the causes of death will be established during the investigations.” Mr Bolvinov described how the discovery of the site had affected him. He said: “To me, it was particularly shocking and horrific and this is a crime against humanity. It shouldn’t be like this in a civilized world in 2022. “This is such a horrible story and unpleasant from any angle. I am sure that the evil will surely be punished.”
