Russia accused of burying thousands of civilians in mass grave

Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of burying the bodies of thousands of civilians in a mass grave to hide war crimes committed in the devastated city of Mariupol.

The charge came as the US said it would send heavy artillery and specially developed drones to Ukraine during a “critical window” in its war with Moscow.

The Kremlin denies committing atrocities in Ukraine and Russian president Vladimir Putin on Thursday hailed the “liberation” of Mariupol. However, he ordered his defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, not to send troops into the sprawling Azovstal metalworks that has become the final bastion of Ukrainian resistance in the strategic port.

Mariupol city council – whose officials are no longer in the area – said satellite images had revealed a recently dug mass grave in the nearby village of Manhush, where Russia may have buried the bodies of thousands of people killed during its heavy bombing of civilian districts.

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“The biggest war crime of the 21st century has been committed in Mariupol,” mayor Vadym Boichenko wrote on social media. “And this demands a strong reaction from the entire civilised world. Everything must be done to stop the genocide.”

Azovstal complex

The parliaments of Estonia and Latvia voted unanimously on Thursday to condemn Russia’s invasion as “genocide”, but Moscow insists it is only striking military targets in Ukraine during an operation to “denazify” the pro-western democracy.

Mr Putin said Russia’s forces had “successfully completed the combat effort to liberate Mariupol” even though Ukraine had not surrendered the city and hundreds of its troops were still ensconced in the Azovstal complex. He told Mr Shoigu to “block off this industrial area so that not even a fly can get through”.

With large numbers continuing to flee Ukraine due to the war, The Irish Times has learned that the Government is considering assistance payments of up to €400 per month to those who agree to host refugees.

The payments, designed to defray associated costs, are to be considered by senior Ministers tasked with coming up with options by Taoiseach Micheál Martin.

About 25,000 Ukrainians have come to Ireland since Russia invaded and emergency accommodation centres are now playing an increasing role in housing those arriving due to a shortage of available hotel rooms.

Refugee accommodation

A review of 529 buildings identified as potentially being suitable for repurposing as refugee accommodation found just one in five could be converted within three to six months. These would yield between 3,000 and 4,500 bed spaces.

Meanwhile, US president Joe Biden said Kyiv’s allies were determined to ensure Russia would “never succeed in dominating and occupying all of Ukraine” as Washington pledged a further $800 million (€737 million) in military aid and $500 million in financial help to Kyiv.

The Pentagon said the weaponry would include 72 howitzer heavy artillery pieces and 140,000 shells, and more than 120 Phoenix Ghost drones.

Mr Biden said the military support would help Ukraine defend Donbas, where Russia has massed troops and armour after being beaten back from the outskirts of the capital, Kyiv.

“We’re in a critical window now of time where they’re . . . going to set the stage for the next phase of this war,” Mr Biden said.

“Now, we have to accelerate that assistance package to help prepare Ukraine for Russia’s offensive that’s going to be more limited in terms of geography, but not in terms of brutality.”