Russia repeats its Bucha crimes in Izium Zelenskyy

STANISLAV POHORILOV – FRIDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2022, 23:11

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine discussed evidence of war crimes committed by Russian occupying forces in the recently liberated city of Izium in Kharkiv Oblast. He confirmed that the UN will send a mission to Kharkiv Oblast [to investigate these crimes].

Source: President Zelenskyy’s video address

Quote from Zelenskyy: "There is already clear evidence of torture and abuse. Moreover, there is evidence that Russian soldiers, whose positions were not far from there, shot at those who were buried, just ‘for fun’."

Details: Zelenskyy said that as of now, more than 440 graves have been found; more bodies are being exhumed and investigations are ongoing. All crimes committed by the occupiers are documented and relevant evidence is being gathered.

Torture chambers where residents of the occupied cities and towns were abused have been found, as were the premises where civilians, including foreign citizens, were kept. "Russia has repeated in Izium what it did in Bucha. And we are just beginning to learn the whole truth about what was happening in Kharkiv Oblast at that time," Zelenskyy said.

He also confirmed that a UN mission will be sent to Izium. "It is good that the UN units are already preparing a group of employees who will visit this place near Izium, who will see and be able to report to everyone in the UN system about what the Russian terrorists did," Zelenskyy noted.

Previously: Oleh Kotenko, the Commissioner for Persons Missing Under Special Circumstances, said that the number of people killed in Izium may be several times higher than that reported after the Bucha tragedy.

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