Biden Chooses Veteran Diplomat for New US Envoy to Russia
SnopesNov 25, 2022
Day 205 Roundup: Mass Burial Site Discovered Near Recently Recaptured Izyum in Kharkiv Region
story
Image copyright: AP Photos [via AP news]
The Facts
Ukrainian authorities have discovered a mass burial site near the recently recaptured city of Izyum in the Kharkiv region, it was announced on Thursday. Upwards of 440 bodies are believed to be buried within the forest, most marked with a simple wooden cross, while one grave is believed to contain the bodies of 17 Ukrainain soldiers. Russia controlled the city between mid-March and last week, when its forces withdrew.
Officials have said all the bodies will be exhumed to determine their identities and causes of death. Deputy Interior Minister Yevhen Enin claimed some bodies exhibited signs of torture, while it is suspected that others were the victims of shooting, artillery, air strikes, and mines.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Just as in Bucha and Mariupol, Russia has committed horrific war crimes and it must be held accountable for these grave violations of international law.
Pro-Russia narrative
As Russia has documented elsewhere, Ukraine will use Russia's withdrawal from Kharkiv to carry out false flags as a pretext for further attempts to try and weaken Russia. We are already seeing that strategy play out in Izyum.
Establishment-critical narrative
There have been many brazenly false claims against both sides in this war, so allegations such as these need to be taken with a grain of salt until independently verified.
