MOSCOW — Two Western journalists acting on a telephone tip located fresh graves of Chernobyl victims at Moscow's Mitinskoye Cemetery on the city's northwest outskirts and were briefly detained by police and accused of trespassing. Carol J. Williams and a colleague found 23 graves just inside the main entrance, with workers digging additional plots and erecting marble tombstones.

Each grave was marked by a mound of earth bordered by concrete and topped with bouquets of red and pink flowers left by relatives. Workmen were installing identical marble headstones bearing victims' names, birthdates, and death dates in gold-painted inscriptions. All death dates fell after the April 26, 1986 explosion and fire at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Some graves carried temporary hand-printed signs with names and dates.

Fifteen graves formed a row at the back of the burial plot. A second row of eight graves was arranged with three to the right and five to the left of a gap large enough for seven more. Empty spaces around the plot indicated that further burials were expected.

Six headstones bore the names of firefighters identified as radiation victims of the accident: Viktor Kibenok, Vladimir Pravik, Nikolai Vashchuk, Vasily Ignatenko, Vladimir Tishchura, and Nikolai Titenok. Their stones were etched with gold stars and their fire brigade ranks.

A cemetery official said the plot was reserved for those who died as a result of the Chernobyl accident and that a monument would eventually be built. Graveyard workers declined to say how long ago the burials took place or whether funerary rituals were held separately for each victim or together.

A police official escorted the two reporters to the graves on condition that they not make notes or take pictures. Cemetery officials then confiscated the reporters' notes and film, saying journalists needed permission to visit. A policeman at the site said the area was off limits to all but family members and that special permission from local authorities was required to copy names from headstones or take photographs.

The Soviet government had issued only terse announcements about the disaster following the April 26 explosion. On June 5, 1986, Soviet officials reported that 26 people had died, including two killed during the initial fire and explosion. American bone marrow specialist Dr. Robert Gale said there would probably be more deaths among the 55 or 60 people still in serious condition. Those suffering radiation sickness were brought to a Moscow hospital. A danger zone was drawn around the Chernobyl nuclear power station and all residents of the area were evacuated.