MOSCOW, April 15. /TASS/. The Russian Investigative Committee will check a report by US journalist Patrick Lancaster that a large number of murdered Mariupol residents have been discovered after the retreat of the Azov nationalist battalion, spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko told reports on Friday.

"Today, even Western journalists started to notice the atrocities of Ukrainian nationalists against Donbass civilians. US journalist Patrick Lancaster reported that a large number of murdered civilians have been discovered after the retreat of the Azov battalion from Mariupol. The Investigative Committee will analyze the provided materials, juxtaposing the information already registered within the criminal case on Ukrainian forces’ crimes against the people of Donbass," she said.

Russian investigators will continue questioning witnesses from among Mariupol residents. Criminal legal assessment will be provided to every fact of civilian death, she assured.