President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia was leaving a trail of “death behind everywhere” after a fresh mass grave was found on September 15 in Izyum in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region that was recently liberated by Ukrainian forces.
“A mass burial of people was found in Izyum, Kharkiv region,” Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address. “The necessary procedural actions have already begun there.”
“Bucha, Mariupol, now, unfortunately, Izyum,” Zelenskiy said, invoking the names of other Ukrainian cities where authorities said retreating Russian troops left behind mass civilian graves and evidence of war crimes.
“Russia is leaving death behind it everywhere and must be held responsible,” he said.
Zelenskiy did not give details on the number of bodies found but said more information should be available on September 16.
But the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said at least 440 bodies had been found at the site.
“Mass graves are being discovered in Izyum after liberation from the (Russians),” the ministry tweeted.
“The current largest burial sights has 440 unmarked graves,” the ministry said.
Thousands of Russian troops fled Izyum last week after occupying the city and using it as a logistics hub in the Kharkiv region. They left behind large amounts of ammunition and equipment.
Earlier, Oleh Kotenko, the commissioner for missing persons under special circumstances, told RFE/RL that 20-25 bodies were initially found in the mass grave. He said it was a mass burial of Ukrainian soldiers.
Serhiy Bolvinov, the chief police investigator for Kharkiv region, said, “Some died because of artillery fire…. Some died because of air strikes.”
The Ukrainian reports could not immediately be verified. There was no immediate comment from Russia, which denies targeting civilians.
Zelenskiy traveled to Izyum on September 14 and took part in a ceremony raising the Ukrainian flag over the liberated city, one of the largest retaken by Ukrainian troops in a recent lightning counteroffensive in the eastern part of the country.
Elsewhere, Ukrainian forces repelled three Russian attacks north of the city of Donetsk, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces said in a Facebook post.
Sea-based missiles also targeted areas of Odesa region but were destroyed by anti-aircraft units, it said.
Russian forces had launched attacks on several settlements on the Kharkiv front line, the Ukrainian military said.
In its daily intelligence bulletin, the British Defense Ministry said on September 16 that after more than six months of war, “the impact of Russia’s manpower challenge has become increasingly severe,” prompting Kremlin-linked Russian private military company Vagner Group to attempt recruiting Russian convicts for service in Ukraine “since at least July.”
The British intelligence bulletin said convicts were being offered commutation of their sentences as well as cash incentives.
The bulletin said Russian military academies are shortening training courses and bringing cadets graduation dates forward. “This is almost certainly so cadets can be deployed to support the Ukraine operation,” it said.
On the diplomatic front, Zelenskiy met on September 15 with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as he looks to add political momentum to Ukraine’s recent military gains and press for progress in providing Ukraine with air-defense systems.
Zelenskiy emphasized the need for progress in talks with Ukraine’s partners for air-defense systems later in his nightly address.
“We already have agreements with certain countries [and] our diplomats are working with others,” he said.
Late on September 15 the White House has announced an additional $600 million in military aid for Ukraine as the United States moves to support Kyiv’s counteroffensive.
A White House memo said U.S. President Joe Biden would use his Presidential Drawdown Authority, which allows him to authorize the transfer of weapons from U.S. stocks.
The aid consists of equipment and services, as well as training, the White House said in a statement. It did not provide further details on the type of weapons.
