Bodies of 22 victims from Russian occupation of Izium in Kharkiv region remain unidentified
As of January 2025, the bodies of 22 people found in a mass grave in Izium, Kharkiv region, have still not been identified.
The Izium community's press service reported that.
From March to September 10, 2022, Izium was occupied. During this period, Russian forces committed numerous crimes, including murder, torture, and the creation of mass graves.
One location where these crimes were uncovered is a wooded area near the cemetery on Shakespeare Street. Following the liberation of Izium, a mass grave was discovered in this area.
Thanks to the efforts of the State Emergency Service, volunteers, law enforcement officers, and investigators, more than 450 bodies and remains of the deceased were exhumed. They were sent to Kharkiv for forensic medical examinations to establish the causes of death and identify the victims.
"Unfortunately, as of today, 22 bodies remain unidentified. They were previously recorded as "unknown women" or "unknown men" as there is no information about their relatives or acquaintances who could provide the necessary evidence to complete the identification process. Because of this, it is not yet possible to complete the forensic medical examinations on these individuals," the local authorities emphasized.
In this context, the city council is appealing to all community residents: If anyone has information about the deceased, their relatives, or acquaintances, they are urged to inform law enforcement agencies.
Such testimonies can aid in identifying the victims and ensuring they receive a proper burial.
"We believe that with your care and attention, these deceased will be properly identified and buried with respect," the press service emphasized.
For reference:
Rubryka reported on the brutal conditions in Izium during its occupation by Russian forces since March 2022, describing the city as a torture chamber for Ukrainians. After Ukrainian forces liberated the city, mass graves and the remains of tortured individuals were discovered—victims who were targeted simply for being Ukrainians on their land. For more details, read our article: "445 Crosses and an Exhumation in Izium, Kharkiv Region: A City Turned into a Torture Chamber."
On August 29, 2022, Ukraine's armed forces announced that the Ukrainian military had broken through the first line of defense of the Russian occupation forces in the Kherson region.
Two days later, British intelligence reported that Ukraine's armed forces in the south of the country had pushed the front line a certain distance in some places, using relatively weak Russian defense.
The Ukrainian Defense Forces have already returned more than 1,000 square kilometers to government control.
On September 8, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed information about the liberation of the city of Balakliia, Kharkiv region, by Ukraine's armed forces.
On September 9, Zelensky reported that in the Kharkiv region, the defenders of Ukraine had taken control of more than 30 settlements.
On September 10, in Balakliia, in the Kharkiv region, the Ukrainian military and authorities raised the Ukrainian flag.
