Mass graves and ruins: Izyum after liberation from Russian occupation (PHOTOS)

Izyum is the largest city liberated by the Ukrainian army during the counteroffensive. Before the Russian attack, about 46,000 residents lived here. Now only 10,000 people live in the war-torn city. Izyum was under occupation from early April to September 10, 2022.

According to the deputy of Izyum City Council Maksym Strelnikov, during the stay of Russian troops in the city, 80% of the infrastructure was destroyed, and the heating system was broken. For many days there has been no electricity and network reception in Izyum.

Strelnikov says that during the occupation about 1,000 Izyum residents died, even more suffered due to the lack of medical care.

Ukrainian military preparing to transport trophy Russian T-72 tanks, between Volokhiv Yar and Bryhadyrivka on the way to Izyum, 15 September 2022
Photo: Oleksandr Khomenko / hromadske

The muzzle of a Russian weapon with the inscription "Wagner", which hints that the weapon belonged to the eponymous private military company, which is also fighting against Ukraine, September 15, 2022
Photo: Oleksandr Khomenko / hromadske

Ukrainian servicemen collect the remains of Russian military clothing from the surrounding thickets in parallel with demining, September 15, 2022
Photo: Oleksandr Khomenko / hromadske

A cat walks in the center of Izyum, September 15, 2022
Photo: Oleksandr Khomenko / hromadske

Ukrainian tankers enter Izyum, September 15, 2022
Photo: Oleksandr Khomenko / hromadske

Remains of the Russian heavy flamethrower system TOS-1A Solntsepek, September 15, 2022
Photo: Oleksandr Khomenko / hromadske

A man leans on the window of a destroyed building at the entrance to Izyum, September 15, 2022
Photo: Oleksandr Khomenko / hromadske

Ukrainian soldiers inspect a trophy Russian tank at the entrance to Izyum, September 15, 2022. The unit that found the abandoned Russian heavy weapon writes its name on it to prevent another military unit from taking the trophy
Photo: Oleksandr Khomenko / hromadske

Residents are transporting several logs taken from enemy dugouts located in the Izyum forest on September 15, 2022. They were not scared even by the fact that the area has not yet been fully demined
Photo: Oleksandr Khomenko / hromadske

A mass grave of Ukrainian servicemen was found in a cemetery near Izyum. According to the Commissioner for Missing Persons Oleh Kotenko, up to 25 Ukrainian soldiers are buried in this mass grave. Currently, sappers have finished checking the area around the grave and are beginning the procedure of exhumation of the bodies.

A sapper checks the territory of a mass grave at the Izium cemetery, September 15, 2022. The Russians buried 17 to 25 Ukrainian soldiers in this grave
Photo: Oleksandr Khomenko / hromadske

A cross near the mass grave of Ukrainian soldiers, which says that 17 people are buried here, in fact the number is higher, Izyum, September 15, 2022
Photo: Oleksandr Khomenko / hromadske

Ukrainian servicemen look at the grave of an unknown brother-in-arms at Izyum city cemetery, September 15, 2022
Photo: Oleksandr Khomenko / hromadske

A Ukrainian soldier puts protective tape over the grave of an unknown Ukrainian soldier for further exhumation, Izyum, September 15, 2022
Photo: Oleksandr Khomenko / hromadske

In addition, at least one more grave of an unidentified Ukrainian soldier was found in the cemetery. In total, more than 440 new graves have appeared at the local cemetery during the occupation. Most of them have only numbers on homemade wooden crosses.

Graves in the city cemetery of Izyum, which appeared during six months of the Russian occupation of the city, September 15, 2022. In total, there are more than 440 graves, most of which are simply numbered.
Photo: Oleksandr Khomenko / hromadske

Residents of Izyum rest in the city center, September 15, 2022
Photo: Oleksandr Khomenko / hromadske

Izyum was heavily damaged by shelling and bombing, September 15, 2022
Photo: Oleksandr Khomenko / hromadske

The inscription "People live here" on the gate of the house in Izyum did not save it from damage, September 15, 2022
Photo: Oleksandr Khomenko / hromadske

Flowers near one of the destroyed buildings in Izyum, September 15, 2022
Photo: Oleksandr Khomenko / hromadske