In Izioum, Ukrainian investigators began on Friday, September 16, to exhume the bodies. In this city recaptured from Russian forces, more than 400 graves have been discovered. According to local authorities, some bodies have “hands tied”and of “Obviously these people were tortured and executed.” Here’s what to remember from the day.
“Signs of violent death” on the exhumed bodies
“99%” bodies exhumed Friday near Izioum “showed signs of violent death”, affirms the regional governor, Oleg Synegoubov. “There are several bodies with their hands tied behind their backs and one person is buried with a rope around their neck. Obviously these people were tortured and executed”according to him.
According to him, these are in total “450 bodies of civilians bearing traces of violent death and torture” who were buried at this site. “There were also children” among the bodies exhumed during the day by the “200 agents and experts” who work on the site.
The EU says it is “deeply shocked”, Emmanuel Macron condemns “atrocities”
The discovery of these tombs aroused many reactions on the international scene. Emmanuel Macron condemned “with the greatest firmness the atrocities” committed “under Russian occupation”. Moscow is acting “appalling way and it shows and repeats (…). We see what she leaves in her wake”, commented the head of American diplomacy, Antony Blinken.
I condemn in the strongest terms the atrocities committed in Izium, Ukraine, under Russian occupation. Their authors will have to answer for their actions. There is no peace without justice.
—Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) September 16, 2022
“Russia, its political leaders and all those implicated in the continued violations of international law and international humanitarian law in Ukraine will be held to account.”said the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell.
Discovery of “torture rooms”, according to the Ukrainian police
Ukrainian police chief Igor Klymenko announced the discovery of ten “torture chambers” in localities recaptured from the Russians in the Kharkiv region, including six in Izium and two in the town of Balakliïa.
Russian forces have been accused of numerous abuses in areas under their control, including Boutcha, on the outskirts of kyiv, where the bodies of coldly executed civilians were discovered after their withdrawal at the end of March. Moscow denies that its soldiers committed these atrocities.
Vladimir Putin wants to continue the war
Vladimir Putin claimed that Russia was in no hurry to complete its military campaign in Ukraine, despite the Ukrainian counter-offensive. “The plan (of operations) does not require change, (…) we are in no hurry”he assured on the sidelines of a summit in Uzbekistan.
The Russian president assured that the strategy of the Russian forces had not changed and that they continued to conquer territories. “Our offensive operations in the Donbass do not stop, they advance at a slow pace (…) the Russian army is occupying more and more new territories”did he declare.
On the diplomatic side, Moscow also suffered a setback on Friday at the United Nations. UN Member States have exceptionally authorized Volodymyr Zelensky to speak via video message at the Annual General Meeting next week.