Russia used “torture chambers” in areas of Ukraine just liberated from their forces. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said investigators had discovered horrifying new evidence of war crimes.
It emerged following the discovery of about 450 graves in Izyum, one of more than 20 towns retaken after an advance by Ukrainian forces.
Zelensky said: “More than 10 torture chambers have been found in the Kharkiv region, in various cities and towns.
“Torture was a widespread practice in the occupied territories.
“That’s what the Nazis did – this is what the Russians do. They will answer in the same way – both on the battlefield and in courtrooms.”
The European Union presidency yesterday called for an international tribunal over Russia’s invasion. The Czech Republic, which currently holds the presidency, said they must be held to account.
Czech foreign minister Jan Lipavsky said: “We stand for the punishment of all war criminals. In the 21st century, such attacks against the civilian population are unthinkable and abhorrent. We must not overlook it. We stand for the punishment of all war criminals.”
Regional prosecutor Olexander Ilyenkov said there was no doubt war crimes had been committed. He said: “In the first grave, there is a civilian who has a rope over her neck. So we see the traces of torture.
“Some were killed, some were tortured, some died in Russian Federation air and artillery strikes.”
Around 100 Ukrainian emergency service workers wearing blue plastic suits are digging up the makeshift graves, trying to establish the cause of death of hundreds of people buried in the forest near Izyum in Kharkiv Oblast.
The head of the pro-Russian administration, Vitaly Ganchev, yesterday accused Ukrainians of staging the mass graves.
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