Russian Soldiers Turn Mariupol Supermarket Into 'Corpse Dump': Official

Days after Mariupol fell into the hands of Russian forces, reports have emerged that Russian soldiers were dumping bodies of Ukrainians at a local supermarket. The corpses were reportedly exhumed during the work to restore the water supply.

The horrifying detail was revealed by Mariupol's mayor's adviser Petro Andryushchenko via Telegram, reported Ukrainska Pravada, an online media outlet based in Kyiv.

"In the premises of the 'Shchyryi kum' supermarket in the Livoberezhny district on Svoboda Avenue, the Russians have set up a corpse dump. Literally," Andryushchenko was quoted by the newspaper.

He alleged that the Russians were bringing the bodies of the dead Ukrainians here, and these bodies were washed out of graves and partially exhumed in an attempt to restore the water supply. "They are just dumping them like garbage," the advisor added.

He also posted a graphic image showing piled-up bodies inside the supermarket. Some were in advanced stages of decomposition. The photograph was reportedly provided to him by the local Telegram channel "Mariupol Now."

Andryushchenko added there is an acute shortage of people to carry out burial works. There is no power supply in many makeshift mortuaries too. The situation, according to him, is so dire that a separate recruitment campaign for pathologists has been launched in Moscow.

Andryushchenko also emphasizes that the photo demonstrates the threat of an epidemic. This comes as Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko warned Saturday that there was a risk of outbreaks of infectious diseases in Mariupol this summer.

According to him, over 2,000 people were killed in Mariupol due to Russian actions, which led to spontaneous burials. "Add to this, a broken sewer, no garbage collection and worsening weather conditions because we are on the verge of summer. Therefore, our doctors report the dangers that may arise this summer - outbreaks of infectious diseases - dysentery, plague and others. These diseases can take away thousands of Mariupol residents," he added.

Earlier the week, Andryushchenk claimed the Ukrainian authorities have found the decomposing bodies of 200 people in the basement of a bombed-out apartment building in the city. He added that the local residents had refused Russian demands to collect the bodies of the dead, so Russia's Ministry of Emergencies left the bodies amid the rubble.