Area of mass burial sites near Mariupol has doubled since May - Investigation 

Journalists working with Radio Liberty's investigative project 'Schemes' discovered this, citing Planet Labs satellite imaging data. 

On June 29, satellite images showed equipment digging trenches in the cemetery near the village of Staryi Krym, near Mariupol. During the occupation, Russian forces buried the dead in these trenches.

Compared to the picture taken on May 8, the number of burials has almost doubled.

Petro Andryushchenko, an adviser to the mayor of Mariupol, explained that the Russians began to dismantle the rubble of high-rise buildings destroyed by the Russian army. In each of these houses there may be up to a hundred dead residents. Their bodies are taken to the cemetery closest to the town of Staryi Krym.

"The occupiers began to massively dismantle the rubble, and every house there is a burial ground. Yesterday, July 5, they "visited" the Cheremushky microdistrict. The employees of the so-called "Ministry of Emergency Situations'' arrived, entered the basement of one of the houses, where there were 100-200 dead bodies, they turned and left, saying "it's none of our business". They are then dealt with by the workers of the so-called "state funeral services", as well as the forensic medical examination under the control of the occupiers. They are usually taken to the cemetery of the town of Staryi Krym. All those who are taken out from under the rubble are simply thrown into a dug ditch at the cemetery," - Andryushchenko explained.

They are also buried in separate graves at the Staryi Krym cemetery. Their increase can be seen on the satellite image for June 29. This is explained by the fact that the invaders began to make money from private funeral services.

"The burial will cost about UAH 20,000. But even after payment, it will be necessary to wait for about 2 weeks, because there are currently problems with wood in Mariupol, so coffins are usually brought from the previously occupied Donetsk region," - the mayor's adviser added.

The Mariupol City Council informs that more than 15,000 citizens may be buried in the trenches.