DISINFO: ‘Izyum atrocities’ staged by Ukraine through controlled media
SUMMARY
Ukrainians were inviting journalists and photographers from controlled media to Izyum to produce fake reports. It was all so predicted and expected that hardly anyone would be surprised in Russia or astonished in Europe.
RESPONSE
The material and links may contain distressing/graphic content.
This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets denying Russia's involvement in atrocities during its war of aggression against Ukraine.
In reality, there is ample evidence of Russian involvement in mass killings and torture of civilians during the Russian occupation of the eastern Ukrainian city of Izyum and surrounding places. Local residents have told reporters about life under Russian occupation. Hundreds of dead bodies have been found in Kharkiv Oblast, some with hands tied, which indicate the killing of prisoners. Bodies of Ukrainian soldiers were found among civilians.
After information about Russia’s actions was made public, French President Emmanuel Macron condemned these atrocities and said that “there is no peace without justice”. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said in a tweet:
“Reports of a mass grave with 440 men, women, and children in Izyum, Ukraine are heartbreaking and should galvanize our support to the brave Ukrainians seeking to liberate their homeland. We stand with Ukraine in pursuing accountability for these crimes.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian troops did in Izyum what they had done in Bucha. Hundreds of dead bodies with signs of torture were found in Bucha and surrounding towns in Kyiv Oblast. A lot of mass graves were discovered there. Some bodies were scattered around the streets after Russian troops withdrew from there in April. New bodies are being discovered up to now.
See more debunked disinformation cases on war crimes of Russia in Ukraine, including in Bucha and Mariupol.