Mass grave of Ukrainian defenders, 500 graves of civilians found in liberated Izium, Kharkiv Oblast

A mass grave of about 25 Ukrainian defenders and about 500 graves with newly buried Ukrainian civilians were discovered in just recaptured Izium city, Kharkiv Oblast.

According to preliminary data, there are about 25 bodies in the grave, although the inscription indicated 17. The exact data will be revealed after exhumation.

The graves of civilians are marked with crosses made of two boards. On these crosses, the number is usually indicated, less often the surname and date of death, even more rarely wreaths or ribbons from loved ones lie on such a grave. There are family graves of parents and children.

Update:

https://twitter.com/suspilne_news/status/1570802250305654784

In the recently-liberated city of Izium, Kharkiv Oblast, the Ukrainian law enforcers found bodies of about 20 servicemen with their hands tied behind their backs, the Verkhovna Rada's Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets said in his comment to journalists.

"We found about 500 graves of the civilians. And so far, one mass grave has been discovered, where up to twenty servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are buried," he said, adding that those soldiers were shot dead with their hands tied behind their backs.

GRAPHIC CONTENT: Today I watched as Ukraine began exhuming more than 440 bodies found in a mass burial site on the edge of liberated city Izium, Kharkiv region.

At least 1 civilian showed signs of torture, while I saw two bodies (believed to be soldiers) with their hands tied. pic.twitter.com/hqCENLdtDf

— Liz Cookman (@liz_cookman) September 16, 2022