KYIV – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says investigators have uncovered more than 400 war crimes in areas of Kherson abandoned by Russian forces as they retreated.
Zelensky said the bodies of civilians and soldiers had been found.
Moscow denies its troops intentionally target civilians.
“In the Kherson region, the Russian army left behind the same atrocities as in other regions of our country, where it was able to enter,” Zelensky said in his nightly video address.
“We will find and bring to justice every murderer. Without a doubt,” he said.
Since the start of the war, mass graves have been found in areas including Bucha, Izyum and Mariupol. Ukraine has accused Russian troops of being behind the atrocities.
A United Nations commission last month said war crimes had been committed in Ukraine and that Russian forces were responsible for the “vast majority” of human rights violations at the start of the invasion.
Kherson was the only regional capital to be captured by Russia since the February invasion of Ukraine.
The region, along with three others, was proclaimed by President Vladimir Putin to be part of Russia, at a ceremony in the Kremlin in September.
But Kherson city was liberated by Ukrainian troops on Friday. Crowds of flag-waving Ukrainians greeted Kyiv’s soldiers with hugs and kisses. (BBC)
