Ukrainian officials say they have identified mass graves outside the city of Mariupol, which they say adds to mounting proof of Russian war crimes against Ukrainian civilians
The claim is supported by photos collected and analyzed by US satellite imagery company Maxar Technologies that appears to show more than 200 new graves at a site on the northwestern edge of Manhush, a town around 12 miles to the west of Mariupol. An estimated 100,000 people remain trapped in Mariupol which has been under constant bombardment since it was surrounded by Russian forces on March 1, according to Ukrainian officials.
Amid war crimes investigation, Putin speaks out on war in Ukraine 03:42Putin proclaims Mariupol liberatedEvidence of mass graves outside Mariupol surfaced as Russian President Vladimir Putin proclaimed the"liberation" of the southeastern port city by Russian forces -- even as he called off an attempt to storm the Azovstal steel plant, the final bastion of Ukrainian defenders inside the city, where civilians have also sheltered.
Ukraine releases purported communications of Russian commander 02:40Ukrainian officials, who maintain the city remains contested, have warned of a major humanitarian emergency in Mariupol as food and water run out, with electricity and gas cut -- but several attempts to establish evacuation corridors to allow civilians to escape have failed. "Unfortunately, it is not possible today to evacuate civilians from Azovstal," Boichenko, the city's mayor, said Thursday.