Large mass grave discovered in Ukraine, 'Russia is committing war crimes'

 Ukrainian authorities have found a mass grave in which 440 people were buried in the territory liberated from Russia.

The news agency Reuters, quoting the regional police chief, said that the grave was found in the area of Uzum, where the Russian army retreated a few days ago.

Last Sunday, Ukrainian officials claimed that thousands of Russian troops had withdrawn from an area they had long used as a logistics hub.

On their way, the Russian soldiers also left behind a large quantity of arms and other equipment which had been captured.

"I can say that this is the largest mass grave found in the liberated areas, with 440 bodies, some from ground fire and some from airstrikes," police chief Sergeant Balvinov told Sky News. were killed.'

Reuters has not been able to independently confirm the claim, while Russia has yet to respond.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise visit to Uzum after the retreat of Russian troops and praised the Ukrainian troops.

They have blamed Russia after the discovery of a mass grave that proved what happened in the Bucha region, a suburb of the capital Kiev where Russian troops entered when the offensive began.

Ukraine and its Western ally have accused Russia of war crimes, which they say killed thousands of civilians in an April attack on Mariupol.

President Zelensky said in a video address on Thursday night that "Russia is leaving behind deaths for which it must be held responsible."

Russia, on the other hand, has denied targeting civilians or committing war crimes.

A week after Ukraine made gains in the southern region, Ukrainian officials said Russia was strengthening its defenses and that the advance would be difficult to maintain.

Russian President Putin has yet to comment on the loss and withdrawal of his troops.

Ukrainian officials say 9,000 square kilometers (3,400 square miles) of territory have been retaken.

In footage taken by Reuters on Thursday in the Kapiansk region, buildings can be seen destroyed and burned.

A person from this area said, "There is no electricity or any other means of communication with anyone. If we had something like that, we would have at least talked to our families."

It should be noted that Russia attacked the neighboring country of Ukraine on February 24, and since then, there has been a continuous war in which thousands of people have died, the United States and Western powers are supporting Ukraine, and economic sanctions are also imposed on Russia have been installed.

Ukrainian President Zelensky is of the position that arms will not be laid down under any circumstances, while on the other hand, Russian President Vladimir Putin says that the war will continue until victory.