The occupation authorities of the Kherson region forced children to tear up the graves of victims of Nazi mass shootings in 1941-1943 near Henichesk.
This was reported by IPC-South, citing Russian sources.
The invaders callthe involvement of schoolchildren in the exhumation of human remains"patriotic education". In addition to children, heavy equipment was also involved in the "search work", which could simply destroy the burial site.
"In our case, the task is to collect accurate information about the mass grave near Genichesk, for which a set of investigative, forensic, historical and archaeological measures will be carried out," the publication quotes a statement by the self-proclaimed governor of the occupied Kherson region, Volodymyr Saldo.
The Russians called the exhumation action "Without a statute of limitations." It is not reported why the graves need to be excavated right now and by local children and teenagers who have no experience in such work.
One of the photos published by the occupation media also shows the use of heavy machinery, including an excavator. In the absence of experienced archaeologists and searchers, such methods are likely to lead to the actual destruction of the site.
Also in the photo is a Russian Serafim Ivanov, head of the Kherson regional headquarters of the Russian youth organizationUnarmia.
According to the Center for Investigative Journalism, Serafim Ivanov is a member of the youth of the St. Petersburg city branch of the All-Russian organization "Combat Brotherhood," a Russian non-profit organization of veterans of local wars and military conflicts. He calls himself a co-founder of the all-Russian youth movement Volunteer Company, which was created by this organization. In the Kherson region, Ivanov is engaged in spreading Russian propaganda and military education of local children.