"We See Same Things as in Bucha": Zelenskyy about Izium and Balakliia

In his comment for Ukrainian Pravda, President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said that during the occupation of Izium and Balakliia in Kharkiv Oblast, Russians behaved the same way they did in Kyiv oblast early in the war: they tortured residents and destroyed infrastructure.

"Izium and Balakliia left me [shocked - ed.] …we can't get used to such things, but after Bucha, we won't be surprised by the steps taken by Russian terrorists, because we see the same thing. Again tortures, again destruction: schools, kindergartens… They (the Russian invaders – ed.) leave the same traces. I didn't see anything new", Zelenskyi said.

Zelenskyi noted that some of the residents who had remained in the city of Izium under occupation are happy to see the Ukrainian army, and some are shocked.

"They don't understand what's going on. Because they spend half a year with no light, no water, no electricity. They were under occupation for half a year and were afraid to go out. They are afraid of any changes", the President added.

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