Massgrave in Izyum
Much has been written about the Russian warcrimes. I’ll let these pictures taken on a mission in July 2024 speak for themselves.
Izyum
Izyum, a strategic city in eastern Ukraine, fell under Russian occupation in April 2022 after weeks of relentless bombardment. Cut off from supplies, civilians were trapped in ruins with no food or water. The city became a key Russian logistics hub until Ukraine’s September counteroffensive drove them out.
After liberation, a mass grave with over 440 bodies was found in a nearby forest—many showed signs of torture and execution. The discovery was compared to Bucha, another site of Russian war crimes.
In the surrounding forests, abandoned Russian trenches remained—hastily dug, filled with discarded gear, and evidence of an army that thought it would stay forever. But they left behind not just their defenses, but proof of atrocities—silent graves and trenches marking another scar on Ukraine’s war-torn landscape.
Bucha, Irpin, Kyiv
In February 2022, as Russian forces advanced towards Kyiv, the town of Irpin became a key battleground. Ukrainian troops and volunteers blew up the main bridge connecting Irpin to Kyiv to stop the Russian advance, forcing civilians to flee under heavy shelling. Many were gunned down as they tried to escape across makeshift crossings.
By March, Russian troops had taken control of Bucha, turning it into a scene of horrific war crimes. As Ukrainian forces liberated the town in early April, they found mass graves filled with executed civilians, bodies lying on the streets, and reports of torture, rape, and looting. Some victims had their hands tied behind their backs, shot at point-blank range, while others were left to rot in their homes.
Satellite images and survivor testimonies confirmed that these atrocities were committed while Russian forces occupied the towns, leading to widespread international outrage. The names Irpin and Bucha became symbols of Russian war crimes, fueling investigations into crimes against humanity and strengthening Ukraine’s resolve to resist the invasion.
Okhmatdyt Children’s hospital, Kyiv
On July 8, 2024, a Russian missile struck Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital in Kyiv, one of Ukraine’s largest pediatric facilities. The attack killed two adults and severely damaged intensive care, surgical, and oncology wards. The toxicology department, crucial for pediatric dialysis, was completely destroyed.
Amidst the chaos, medical staff relocated young patients to makeshift treatment areas in parks and streets. First responders set up triage zones, providing urgent care.
The United Nations condemned the strike as a war crime, highlighting its deliberate targeting of a children’s hospital. In September 2024, Ukraine identified Lieutenant General Sergei Kobylash as responsible for ordering the attack—he was later promoted to head Russia’s air force despite an ICC arrest warrant for war crimes.
Despite the devastation, Okhmatdyt’s medical team remains resilient, continuing to provide life-saving care amid ongoing reconstruction efforts.
