Mass graves containing more than 400 unmarked burials have been found in the Kharkiv city of Izium by officials in Ukraine, days after the country’s troops liberated the city from Russian soldiers, leading them on their way out of the war-torn region. “Mass graves discovered in Izium after liberation from Russians. Today’s largest burial site has 440 insignificant graves,” the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said earlier today. Volodymyr Zelensky said officials have started the necessary procedural actions and “more information – clear, verified – should be available tomorrow.” The wartime president also warned of a radiological disaster “worse even than Chernobyl” and said the world remained on the brink of nuclear disaster as long as Russian soldiers remained stationed at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he understood his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping’s concerns about the looming crisis in Europe, in a first sign of friction with Beijing over the war in Ukraine.

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Izium left decimated as Ukraine retakes the city from Russian forces

Izium left decimated as Ukraine retakes the city from Russian forces Joe Middleton 16 September 2022 08:01 1663308900

Putin tells Xi he understands China has “questions and concerns” about the war in Ukraine

Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he understood Xi Jinping had questions and concerns about the situation in Ukraine, but praised the Chinese leader for what he said was a “balanced” position on the conflict, Reuters reports. In their first face-to-face meeting since the war, Xi said he was very happy to meet his “old friend” again after Putin said US efforts to create a unipolar world would fail. “We highly appreciate the balanced position of our Chinese friends when it comes to the Ukraine crisis,” Putin told Xi, whom he addressed as “Dear Comrade Xi Jinping, dear friend.” “We understand your questions and concern about this. During today’s meeting, of course we will explain our position, we will explain in detail our position on this issue, although we have talked about it in the past.” Putin’s first remarks about Chinese concern about war come days after the blitzkrieg of his forces in northeastern Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov later told reporters that the closed-door talks were excellent. Joe Middleton 16 September 2022 07:15 1663306708

Russian POWs sent to war in Ukraine amid heavy casualties – British Foreign Office

Russian private military company Wagner Group has been campaigning to deploy convicts and prisoners in Russian prisons since at least July this year, Britain’s Ministry of Defense said in an intelligence briefing today. “The Kremlin-linked Russian private military company Wagner Group has been campaigning to recruit Russian convicts for service in Ukraine since at least July. The prisoners have been offered commutation of their sentences as well as monetary incentives,” the ministry said. He added that this offer from Russia has been revived, and a newly released video likely shows Wagner owner Yevgeny Prigozhin “making a proposal to recruit prisoners.” In the video, Prigozhin emphasizes that he is only looking for “fighters for assault units,” the ministry claimed. He added that Russian military academies are shortening training courses and bringing forward graduation dates for students. “This is almost certain that the cadets can be deployed to support the operation in Ukraine. The impact of Russia’s manpower challenge is becoming increasingly serious,” the British Foreign Office said. “The acceleration of officer cadet training and Wagner’s demand for assault troops suggest that two of the most critical shortages within the military’s manning crisis are likely to be combat infantry and junior commanders,” he added. Arpan Rai September 16, 2022 06:38 1663306662

Pope Francis said it is morally legitimate for countries that support Ukraine to supply weapons to Ukraine to help the country against Russian invasion. “It is a political decision that can be moral, morally acceptable, if it is made under moral conditions,” the Pope told reporters as he departed from a trip to Kazakhstan. He also urged the Kiev government to be open to possible dialogue, even though it may “reek” because it would be difficult for the Ukrainian side. Arpan Rai September 16, 2022 06:37 1663305038

The world on the brink of destruction by radioactivity worse than Chernobyl – Zelensky

Volodymyr Zelensky has warned of a nuclear disaster worse than Chernobyl if Russian soldiers remain stationed at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. “As long as Russian soldiers remain at the nuclear power plant, the world remains on the brink of a nuclear disaster – worse even than Chernobyl,” Zelensky said in his speech last night. He is pushing for “the shared responsibility of everyone in Europe and the world to remove the Russian presence from the ground” of the nuclear plant. Arpan Rai September 16, 2022 6:10 am 1663304327

Mass grave with 440 bodies found in Kharkiv city – officials

Officials in Ukraine have found a mass grave of 440 bodies in the northeastern town of Izium that was retaken by Russian soldiers, Ukraine’s defense ministry said early today. “Mass graves discovered in Izium after liberation from Russians. Today’s largest burial site has 440 unmarked graves,” the ministry tweeted, sharing photos from the site showing marked graves. Volodymyr Zelensky said that “necessary procedural actions have already started there.” “More information – clear, verified – will be available tomorrow,” he said, the ministry added. Thousands of Russian troops were driven out of Izium last weekend after seizing the city and using it as a logistics hub in the Kharkiv region. They left behind large quantities of ammunition and equipment. Arpan Rai September 16, 2022 05:58 1663299768

Good morning, and welcome to our Ukraine war coverage for Friday, September 16.

Arpan Rai September 16, 2022 4:42 am