Ukrainian authorities reportedly discovered a large area of multiple burial sites in Izyum on 15 September 2022, following the city’s liberation from the control of Russia-aligned forces, who captured the city in April 2022. The location includes marked individual graves, unmarked individual graves, and graves containing multiple corpses buried together. The human remains uncovered so far are concentrated in a forested area in northwest Izyum near Pishchanske Cemetery on Shakespeare Street.

Initial reports indicate that this site was allegedly used to bury a mixed population of corpses, including Russia and Russia-aligned forces soldiers, Ukraine’s combatants, and local civilians. Individuals with ropes around their necks, bound hands, and signs of alleged torture have reportedly been recovered by Ukrainian forensic technicians.

Yale HRL has identified multiple earth disturbances in and around cemetery between April and July. Approximately 55,000 square meters of land (5.5 hectares; 13.6 acres) appear to have been excavated between 6 April and 1 July 2022 in a manner consistent with reported burial operations. Additionally, at least two vehicles consistent with military excavators have been identified near the cemetery in June 2022 satellite imagery, and significant military activity occurred at the location when it was under Russian control. The team identified at least 40 military objects, including vehicles, communication and logistics hubs, and artillery positions, often aligning with locations of disturbed earth.