Hundreds of graves found in liberated Izyum city - officials

Ukraine says hundreds of graves have been found outside Izyum, days after it was re-taken from Russia.

Wooden crosses, most of them marked with numbers, were discovered in a forest outside the city by advancing Ukrainian forces.

Authorities said they would start exhuming some of the graves on Friday.

It is not yet clear what happened to the victims, but early accounts suggest some may have died from shelling and a lack of access to healthcare.

Speaking on Friday, the head of Ukraine's national police service said most of the bodies belonged to civilians.

Ihor Klymenko told a news conference that although soldiers were also believed to be buried there, there was so far no confirmation.

Earlier, Ukrainian authorities told the BBC more than 400 bodies were thought to be buried at the site.