The Kremlin called Monday, September 19.lyingreported the discovery of hundreds of bodies and a mass grave in Izi, eastern Ukraine, after Russian forces withdrew from the area.
“This is a lie. In this case, of course, we will defend the truthKremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. According to Ukrainian authorities, more than 440 graves and mass graves were found last week near Izium, in the middle of a pine forest on the outskirts of this city, which has been seized by forces from Kiev to Moscow.
Ukrainian authorities announced the startling discovery on Friday near the pre-war city of about 50,000 people, which was under Russian occupation from April to early September. On Friday, September 16, AFP reporters saw hundreds of graves marked with a cross, numbers or names and dates, as well as a mass grave containing 17 bodies of Ukrainian soldiers, according to forensic experts. The hands of at least one of the corpses were tied with rope.
Since the start of its military intervention in Ukraine, Russia has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. “It is the same scenario as in BuchaDmitry Peskov said Monday, referring to another Ukrainian city near Kiev where Russian forces are accused of committing atrocities, which Moscow denies.
The Kremlin spokesman also assured on Monday that the Crimean peninsula, annexed by Moscow in 2014, “An integral part of the territory of Russiaafter Ukrainian officials reiterated their desire to stopoccupation» in Russian. “Any remark on the territory of Russia will receive an appropriate responseDmitry Peskov added.
Source: Le Figaro
