Ukrainian law enforcement has identified 875 out of 1,008 bodies discovered in the territories of the Kharkiv Oblast that were occupied by Russia in the beginning of the full-scale invasion and deoccupied by Ukraine’s forces in September 2022. Among the identified victims, 29 were children.
This data indicates a significant number of civilian killings, committed by Russian soldiers, including children, during months of Russian occupation.
The aftermath of the occupation left behind a grim scene of 1,008 bodies, as reported by the National Police of Ukraine. The efforts of the police force have led to the identification of 875 individuals so far, with the ongoing work not pausing.
The law enforcement agencies of the region have registered almost 17,000 war crimes committed by Russian soldiers on Kharkiv Oblast.
Details indicate that in Kupiansk alone, Russian occupiers killed 200 civilians and injured over 750 individuals. Additionally, Russian soldiers caused extensive damage to more than 2,500 civil and critical infrastructure objects.
Background:
On September 16, 2022, the head of the National Police, Ihor Klymenko, announced the discovery of 10 mass graves in the decoccupied territories of the Kharkiv Oblast. On September 23, 2022, it was revealed that law enforcement had identified 18 locations in Kharkiv where occupiers had tortured Ukrainian citizens. The police also identified over 1,000 Russian military personnel responsible for crimes in the occupied territories.
On October 8, 2022, in the town of Kupiansk-Vuzlovyy in the Kharkiv region, four bodies bearing signs of violent death were discovered following the decoccupation. The police continue their relentless efforts to bring justice to the victims and hold the perpetrators accountable.
