His job is to retrieve and bury corpses in the Ukrainian city of Butsa, where evidence of possible war crimes has emerged from Russian forces. “They are harmless,” he said, standing next to a large white van, waiting to load the bodies of five other men in the back. The bloodied corpses – four of them with their hands tied behind their backs, all of them violently killed, were found in the basement of a children’s camp until Russian forces turned it into a temporary base. Latest news of war in Ukraine – ‘Unspoken horror’ in liberated cities as satellite images show mass graves Image: A mass grave in Bucha, about 16 miles northwest of Kiev “Russian soldiers” and their president are tyrants, “Matuyk said. “Whoever agreed and waged this war is inhuman.” The bodies of about 300 civilians have been found in Bucha since Russian troops took control of the city, about 16 miles northwest of Kiev, in the early days of the invasion, Matuyk said. He predicted that more would be discovered. Most of the victims were men, but it was believed that about 30% were women and children. “During the worst bombing, there were many corpses and we buried them in mass graves,” said Matuyk. It was scary to have to work in a war zone, but the honest man, who can still smile, said, “We used to pick up corpses under the bombings.” Image: The bodies of about 300 civilians have been found in Bucha since the withdrawal of Russian troops Russian troops finally withdrew from Bucha about four days ago as part of a wider withdrawal from the entire Kiev region. But as Ukrainian forces pushed back into the city, they found corpses left in the streets and basements. Image: Serhij Matuyk’s job is to retrieve and bury corpses in the Ukrainian city of Bucha Read more: Mass graves, torture and broken bodies – Bucha’s horror revealed Asked if any of the bodies had revealed evidence of torture, Mr Matuyk said: “Yes, for sure. For example, on Sunday, 20 out of 30 people had their hands tied. “They died on their knees, they were shot in the back of the head. We also collected corpses from the streets of people who were killed riding their bicycles. Anyone who was out driving or walking was systematically killed. It is terrible. “I’m used to it now, but at first I found it so shocking. I just want to thank my kids for doing it. It’s a difficult job.” Picture: Body bags are lined up on the ground In the basement of the holiday camp, three of the bodies were shot in the head, Ukrainian officials said. A fourth man was killed by a blow to the head from a rifle butt, while the fifth victim was shot several times in the chest. Russia has denied responsibility for the killings of any civilians in Bukhara, accusing the Ukrainian government of creating a “provocation”. Elsewhere in the city, however, a resident described to Sky News how she personally saw a Russian soldier shoot and kill one of her neighbors. Iryna, 47, said the soldier had challenged the man because he walked out of his apartment building. He was asked for the papers. He said: “I do not have my documents with me. “I live on the ground floor and I will take them now,” he recalls. Image: Serhij Matuyk says some of the bodies show evidence of torture Iryna said she and her husband were watching from their apartment in the same block as he turned to go back inside and get his papers. But the man, who was not quite 50 years old, had just walked away when the soldier shot him in the back of the head, he said. “He did not even see it coming, he did not even have time to say anything,” said Irina. “My husband and I heard a pop. And he fell.” They did not dare to go out to retrieve the corpse, so it remained on the ground for hours. Eventually, Iryna said that her husband and some other neighbors dug a mud hole outside the back of the apartment building. The bodies of two other residents are also buried there. They were also killed indiscriminately by Russian soldiers, according to Iryna. “It’s just scary,” she said, her voice breaking and tears running down her eyes. “It is impossible for this to happen in the 21st century. It is unthinkable … for something like this to happen. They will not wish this on anyone. What they did … so many people were killed … just for nothing.”
