A 9,000-person’mass grave’ outside Mariupol reveals the horror of Russian conflict

RUSSIA’S conflict with Ukraine has taken a horrifying new turn, with satellite images appearing to show mass graves outside the city of Mariupol, where Russian forces are accused of burying up to 9,000 citizens.

The heartbreaking images, obtained by satellite image supplier Maxar Technologies, depict numerous lines of tombs near an existing cemetery in Manhush. According to Maxar, the graves were dug late last month, with additional burials dug in recent weeks. The photographs appear to reveal up to 200 new graves in the village, which is located 10 miles outside the beleaguered city of Mariupol.

Maxar representatives said in an emailed statement, referring to the Manhush mass grave: “According to recent media reports, Russian soldiers have been taking the bodies of people killed in Mariupol to this location.

“A review of our satellite images from mid-March through mid-April indicates that the expansion of the new set of graves began between March 23-26, 2022, and has continued to expand over the past couple of weeks.

Russia news: The early expansion of graves site on March 19

“The graves are aligned in four sections of linear rows (measuring approximately 85 meters [260 feet] per section) and contain more than 200 new graves.”

Vadym Boychenko, the mayor of Mariupol, has accused Russia of “hiding their military crimes” by transporting civilian remains from the besieged city and burying them in nearby Manhush.

The Mariupol City Council warned on Thursday in a post on the Telegram messaging app that the graves could include up to 9,000 bodies.

Mr. Boychenko’s aide, Piotr Andryushchenko, stated on Telegram: “The remains of the deceased were being carried in by the truckload and unceremoniously thrown in heaps.

Nearly a month ago, mass graves in Bucha were discovered. They contained hundreds of victims.

The mass graves were also discovered in several other towns near Kyiv following the intensification of a Russian invasion.

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