99% bodies exhumed in Izium have "signs of violent death" – Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration

KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO – FRIDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2022, 23:34

Among the bodies exhumed from the mass burial site in the city of Izium, in Kharkiv Oblast, on Friday, 16 September, 99% have signs of violent death.

Source: Oleh Syniehubov, Head of the Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram; Serhii Bolvinov, Head of the investigative department of Kharkiv Oblast Police, on Facebook

Quote from Syniehubov: "Among the bodies exhumed today, 99% have signs of violent death.

Several bodies have their arms tied behind their backs; one person was buried with a noose around their neck. These people have clearly been tortured and executed. There are also children among those buried [at the mass burial site in Izium]."

Details: Meanwhile, Bolvinov reported that the bodies of 22 civilians and 17 soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were exhumed at the mass burial site in Izium; their bodies were taken to experts to conduct examinations.

"One of the civilians had a rope around his neck; his fingers were damaged. Investigators are confirming whether he had been tortured. One of the soldiers had his arms tied behind his back," Bolvinov said.

He added that local residents told police officers that they buried the dead themselves whenever they found out that someone died.

Background: 

• A mass grave containing 440 bodies was found in the liberated city of Izium, in Kharkiv Oblast.
• The number of people killed in Izium may be several times higher than that reported after the Bucha tragedy, said Oleh Kotenko, Commissioner for Persons Missing Under Special Circumstances.
• Dmytro Lubinets, Human Rights Commissioner, told reporters that 20 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been found buried with their hands tied behind their backs in Izium.
• 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].