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Up to 75,000 Ukrainian civilians killed in Mariupol: report

The number of civilians killed in Mariupol may even be three times higher than the earlier estimates of the Ukrainian government that set the number at 25,000 dead, a recent Associated Press report, published on Thursday, stated.

Since March, 10,300 new graves have appeared in the devastated, Russian-occupied city of Mariupol. However, many of them have at least a few bodies buried in them, according to an AP analysis.

? More than 10,000 new graves now scar Mariupol, @AP found.
The death toll might run three times higher than an early estimate of at least 25,000.https://t.co/RBIDfwDJHD

— UkraineWorld (@ukraine_world) December 22, 2022

Based on interviews with Mariupol residents, the AP estimated that thousands of bodies have never been buried and many are still in the city’s ruins. Similar reports were given by a pro-Ukrainian advisor to the city’s mayor, Petro Andriushchenko, according to whom the Russians are demolishing dilapidated apartment blocks in Mariupol to hide the true scale of their crimes.

According to Andriushchenko, many buildings, especially near the Azovstal metallurgical combine, hide between 50 and 100 human remains. He added that these people will never be buried in a dignified manner and that these are unregistered deaths.

The agency estimates that Russians plan to demolish up to more than 50,000 residential houses in Mariupol.

Mariupol.
The hellscape of Russian “liberation.” pic.twitter.com/TKRXFLG65N

— Illia Ponomarenko ?? (@IAPonomarenko) December 20, 2022

The analysis

While working on the report, the AP analysed hundreds of satellite images, as well as video footage, including drone footage. 30 residents of Mariupol were interviewed, including 13 people still in the city. Three forensic pathologists with experience in examining mass graves for war crimes investigations confirmed that the conclusions presented by the AP are credible.

Prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the population of Mariupol was around 430,000. According to the UN, around 350,000 civilians have left the city. Ukrainian authorities speculate that tens of thousands of people may have died there between February and May.

The ruined city is in a very difficult humanitarian situation. Shortages of food, water, medicine, heating, hygiene products and communications, among others, make the lives of civilians still residing in the city a struggle for survival.

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