Since March, AP has discovered more than 10 thousand new graves in Mariupol

Associated Press journalists found at least 10.3 thousand graves in Mariupol, who appeared in the city after a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Each of them can have several bodies.

In their investigation, journalists used satellite pictures, hundreds of videos from drones and from the ground, as well as an interview with 30 Mariupol residents, 13 of which remain in the city. Three judicial archaeologist with experience in studying mass burials for investigating war crimes confirmed that the analysis is adequate to reality in the current conditions.

Most of all - about 8.5 thousand - new graves appeared in the Starrykomsky cemetery on the outskirts of Mariupol, and there can be many bodies under each mound, journalists say. In the cemeteries in the nearby villages, Mangush and the grape from the beginning of March also appeared mass burials.

The graves are visible as earthen embankments, sometimes with wooden crosses, on which there are names and dates. But more often near the graves, small signs with numbers written by hand were found. Some embankments had several of them, which may indicate the number of bodies buried in them.

In addition, in Mariupol there are three trenches, including one, created by Ukrainians themselves at the beginning of the siege of the city. Journalists also have a video in which the Russian military use heavy digging equipment for long trenches, which were then covered.

Based on conversations with the Mariupol residents, journalists believe that thousands of bodies did not even get into cemeteries. Each of the thirty respondents knows someone who died during the Russian siege of Mariupol.

Lidia Erashova saw her five -year -old son Artyom and the seven -year -old niece Angelina died under fire in March. Relatives buried them in a homemade grave in the yard and fled from Mariupol. When they returned in July to reburial children, they learned that their bodies were already dug up and took them to the warehouse. After identification, relatives buried them in the Starrykomsky cemetery. Now Yerashova is in Canada.

At the end of May, when Mariupol was seized by the Russian military, the Ukrainian authorities of the city said that at least 25 thousand people were killed during the siege. Respondents Associated Press, referring to workers documenting the collection of bodies from the streets for the Russian authorities, say that the number of dead at least three times more.

Ukraine and international human rights organizations accuse Russia of numerous war crimes committed in Mariupol. Among them are the shelling of the hospital and a blow to the drama theater, where people were hiding. The Russian Ministry of Defense calls these accusations fakes.

• Mariupol was taken by Russian troops in May 2022 after almost three months of fierce battles. During this time, a significant part of houses and other objects was destroyed in the city. The exact number of dead is unknown - estimates vary from several thousand to several tens of thousands.
• Shortly after the occupation of Mariupol, the authorities of St. Petersburg announced that Petersburg and Mariupol would be "twin cities." It is alleged that Petersburg oversees humanitarian aid to Mariupol.
• On December 12, two interwoven hearts appeared on the Palace Square of St. Petersburg - large with the inscription "St. Petersburg" and small with the inscription "Mariupol". It is alleged that the Double Hearts project was approved by Governor Alexander Beglov, and previously a similar installation appeared in the city garden of Mariupol.
• On December 18, the inscription “The killer” appeared on the heart with the inscription “Mariupol”, you yourself bombed him. Judas. ” After that, the skin was removed from the installation, promising to replace it.
• On December 19, it became known that a 17-year-old schoolgirl was detained for damage to installations. It drew up a protocol under the article on the "discredit" of the army and released a bond of the turnout.