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Reuters
Reuters
Politics
Zohra Bensemra and Joseph Campbell

Police say 269 bodies recovered in Ukraine's war-torn Irpin

A view of at least three rows of new graves for people killed during Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at a cemetery in Irpin, Kyiv region, Ukraine April 18, 2022. Picture taken with a drone. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

Ukrainian investigators have examined 269 dead bodies in Irpin, near Kyiv, since the town was taken back from Russian forces in late March, a police official said on Monday, as workers dug fresh graves on its outskirts.

The town, which had a pre-war population of about 62,000, was one of the main hotspots of fighting with Russian troops before they pulled back from Ukraine's northern regions to intensify their offensive in the east.

Cars destroyed amid Russia's attack on Ukraine are seen, after they were collected from different places, in Irpin, Kyiv region, Ukraine April 18, 2022. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

At a cemetery on the outskirts of Irpin, dozens of new graves have been dug and heaped with wreaths. Under the watch of a few tearful mourners, workers hurriedly shovelled the sandy earth into one grave on Monday.

"As of now, we have inspected 269 dead bodies," said Serhiy Panteleyev, first deputy head of the police's main investigation department, at an online briefing.

He said forensic work was ongoing to determine the cause of death for many of the victims, sharing photos of severely charred human remains.

A member of the Ukrainian Territorial Defence Forces sits next to a destroyed car, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Irpin, Kyiv region, Ukraine April 18, 2022. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

He said seven sites in Irpin where civilians were allegedly shot have been inspected, without giving further details.

Russia denies targeting civilians and has dismissed allegations its troops committed war crimes in occupied areas of Ukraine.

(Additional reporting by Max Hunder; Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Jan Harvey)

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