Ukraine The Stigmata of Izioum a year after its

Ukraine: The Stigmata of Izioum, a year after its

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Izioum (a word meaning “raisin” in Ukrainian and Russian) fell into the hands of the Russians on April 2, 2022, after a month of fierce fighting and daily bombing by Russian aircraft that destroyed 80% of houses and killed several hundred civilians . Five months of Russian occupation and the dispersal of much of the current population prevent us from accurately counting the number of victims. Local authorities estimate that a thousand civilians were killed in Izioum.

A fisherman crosses the Siversky Donets River with a log as it flows through the town of Izyum in Kharkiv region of Ukraine, September 12, 2023. A fisherman with a log crosses the Siversky Donets River, which flows through the city of Izium in the Kharkiv region, Ukraine, September 12, 2023. RAFAEL YAGHOBZADEH FOR “THE WORLD”

The city, located on the Siversky Donets River, formed a barrier that the Russian army wanted to seize at all costs in order to advance south and conquer the Donbass with pincers. Due to its geographical location on the Kharkiv-Sloviansk road, Izioum was already the scene of crucial battles during the Second World War, including a crushing Soviet defeat in the early summer of 1942. The “decommunization” of the city in 2016, when Lenin Square was converted into the John Lennon Square being converted did not change his tragic fate.

Izioum was one of the few major cities, along with Mariupol and Kherson, that were captured by the Russian army in spring 2022. As in every occupied city, there were abuses, rapes, torture and summary executions. The lightning liberation of the city during the counteroffensive in September 2022 led to macabre discoveries. On September 16, 2022, in a pine forest north of Izjum, the graves of 471 Ukrainians buried during the Russian occupation were discovered by authorities and immediately exhumed.

On September 16, 2022, the graves of 471 Ukrainians buried during the Russian occupation were discovered in the pine forest near Izyum (Ukraine), a few days after the city was liberated by Ukrainian troops. The authorities then carried out their exhumations. September 12, 2023. On September 16, 2022, the graves of 471 Ukrainians buried during the Russian occupation were discovered in the pine forest near Izyum (Ukraine), a few days after the city was liberated by Ukrainian troops. The authorities then carried out their exhumations. September 12, 2023. RAFAEL YAGHOBZADEH FOR “THE WORLD”

The city still exists today. The bridges over the Siversky Donets have not been rebuilt, and the military and civilians have to rely on makeshift pontoons. In the absence of a budget, City Hall is responding to the most urgent needs by restoring vital services: water, gas, electricity and window repairs. A handful of restaurants and grocery stores have reopened, but the local economy is still at a standstill. The war continues, the Russian threat remains close: the front is 50 kilometers from the city, across the Oskil, a tributary of the Siversky Donets. The noise of explosions coming from the east still echoes dully, but now only in damp weather, in the quiet suburbs. In the city center, the sounds of urban life have taken over.

During the Russian occupation, 30-year-old Konstantin Vitaliyovych was interrogated and tortured twice before escaping. When he returned, he applied for the position of bus station director “so that his daughter could later say that it was her father who rebuilt the bus station.” In Izioum (Ukraine), September 12, 2023. During the Russian occupation, 30-year-old Konstantin Vitaliyovych was interrogated and tortured twice before escaping. When he returned, he applied for the position of bus station director “so that his daughter could later say that it was her father who rebuilt the bus station.” In Izioum (Ukraine), September 12, 2023. RAFAEL YAGHOBZADEH FOR “ THE WORLD” A volunteer helps a Ukrainian woman in front of the public humanitarian center in Izioum, Ukraine, September 12, 2023. The place, open since the city's liberation in September 2022, also offers personal assistance and support services. A volunteer helps a Ukrainian woman in front of the public humanitarian center in Izioum, Ukraine, September 12, 2023. The place, open since the city’s liberation in September 2022, also offers personal assistance and support services. RAFAEL YAGHOBZADEH FOR “THE WORLD” Clothes on a table for residents of Izjum, Ukraine, September 12, 2023. Some time after the liberation of the city, the municipality reduced the provision of humanitarian aid to encourage residents to work. Clothes on a table for residents of Izjum, Ukraine, September 12, 2023. Some time after the liberation of the city, the municipality reduced the provision of humanitarian aid to encourage residents to work. RAFAEL YAGHOBZADEH FOR “THE WORLD” A truck transports a Ukrainian military vehicle near Izjum (Ukraine), September 12, 2023. Numerous military convoys drive through the city every day to get to the front line, some fifty kilometers away. A truck transports a Ukrainian military vehicle near Izjum (Ukraine), September 12, 2023. Numerous military convoys drive through the city every day to get to the front line, some fifty kilometers away. RAFAEL YAGHOBZADEH FOR “THE WORLD” A room in the pediatric department in the partially destroyed hospital in Izioum (Ukraine), September 12, 2023. A resuscitation room and an operating room as well as an emergency room were put back into operation despite the destruction. MRI installed in a container outside the hospital. Today there are only two such MRI machines in the country. A room in the pediatric department in the partially destroyed hospital in Izioum (Ukraine), September 12, 2023. A resuscitation room and an operating room as well as an emergency room were put back into operation despite the destruction. MRI installed in a container outside the hospital. Today there are only two such MRI machines in the country. RAFAEL YAGHOBZADEH FOR “THE WORLD” In the basement of the partially destroyed hospital in Izyum (Ukraine), September 12, 2023. During the Russian occupation, surgical operations took place in the hospital's underground shelter, which is still used in the event of an alarm. The hospital employs half of its prewar staff. In the basement of the partially destroyed hospital in Izyum (Ukraine), September 12, 2023. During the Russian occupation, surgical operations took place in the hospital’s underground shelter, which is still used in the event of an alarm. The hospital employs half of its prewar staff. RAFAEL YAGHOBZADEH FOR “THE WORLD” Night scene in Izioum (Ukraine), September 11, 2023. Public lighting no longer works and some houses still have neither gas nor water. Night scene in Izioum (Ukraine), September 11, 2023. Public lighting no longer works and some houses still have neither gas nor water. RAFAEL YAGHOBZADEH FOR “THE WORLD” Svetlana, in one of the two restaurants she opened with her husband, in Izioum (Ukraine), September 12, 2023. The couple, originally from Kharkiv, started working in Izioum in October 2022 and settled in March 2023. Svetlana, in one of the two restaurants she opened with her husband, in Izyum, Ukraine, September 12, 2023. The couple, originally from Kharkiv, started working in Izyum in October 2022 and settled in March 2023. RAFAEL YAGHOBZADEH FOR “THE WORLD” Ukrainian workers renovate the administration building destroyed by the Russian army in the city center of Izyum (Ukraine), September 12, 2023. Ukrainian workers renovate the administration building destroyed by the Russian army in the city center of Izioum (Ukraine), September 12, 2023. RAFAEL YAGHOBZADEH FOR “THE WORLD” “Be careful, life goes on,” a work by Kharkiv-born street artist Gamlet Zinkivsky in the city center of Izioum, Ukraine, September 12, 2023. “Attention, life goes on,” a work by Kharkiv-born street artist Gamlet Zinkivsky, in the city center of Izioum (Ukraine), September 12, 2023. RAFAEL YAGHOBZADEH FOR “LE MONDE” Julia Donchenko, director and teacher of the music academy in Izyum (Ukraine), built in 1820, September 12, 2023. Before the occupation, 210 students were enrolled there. Today, half are learning remotely. All other educational institutions also practice distance learning. Julia Donchenko, director and teacher of the music academy in Izyum (Ukraine), built in 1820, September 12, 2023. Before the occupation, 210 students were enrolled there. Today, half are learning remotely. All other educational institutions also practice distance learning. RAFAEL YAGHOBZADEH FOR “THE WORLD” Nathalya, a modern dance teacher, and one of her students, in their apartment in Izioum (Ukraine), September 12, 2023. Many extracurricular activities are organized at home or in alternative locations, replacing the facilities destroyed by the war. Nathalya, a modern dance teacher, and one of her students, in their apartment in Izioum (Ukraine), September 12, 2023. Many extracurricular activities are organized at home or in alternative locations, replacing the facilities destroyed by the war. RAFAEL YAGHOBZADEH FOR “THE WORLD” A city bus in the city center of Izium (Ukraine), September 12, 2023. A city bus in the city center of Izioum (Ukraine), September 12, 2023. RAFAEL YAGHOBZADEH FOR “THE WORLD” Young Ukrainians on Kremenets Hill in Izioum (Ukraine), September 11, 2023. During the Russian occupation, residents tried to receive the telephone network on the heights of the city. Young Ukrainians on Kremenets Hill in Izioum (Ukraine), September 11, 2023. During the Russian occupation, residents tried to receive the telephone network on the heights of the city. RAFAEL YAGHOBZADEH FOR “THE WORLD” Ukrainians train football at the stadium in downtown Izyum (Ukraine), September 12, 2023. A year after liberation, the city is slowly rebuilding and its residents are gradually returning. Ukrainians train football at the stadium in downtown Izyum (Ukraine), September 12, 2023. A year after liberation, the city is slowly rebuilding and its residents are gradually returning. RAFAEL YAGHOBZADEH FOR “THE WORLD” Downtown Izioum (Ukraine), September 12, 2023. Downtown Izioum (Ukraine), September 12, 2023. RAFAEL YAGHOBZADEH FOR “THE WORLD” One year after the liberation, life is slowly returning to the square in downtown Izioum (Ukraine) on September 12, 2023. Due to a lack of budget, the municipality has given priority to rebuilding infrastructure and buildings. One year after the liberation, life is slowly returning to the square in downtown Izioum (Ukraine) on September 12, 2023. Due to a lack of budget, the municipality has given priority to rebuilding infrastructure and buildings. RAFAEL YAGHOBZADEH FOR “THE WORLD”

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