Izium residents fear a new battle for the city, but there is no threat of capture — The Japan Times
In Izium, Kharkiv Oblast, residents fear a possible new battle and further destruction as Russia, the aggressor state, attacks the city with guided aerial bombs and drones. At the same time, Izium is not currently under a direct threat of capture, and the Ukrainian military is establishing new defensive lines around it.
The situation in the city was reported by The Japan Times. Russian troops occupied Izium for five months in 2022. After the occupation, they left behind a mass burial site and destroyed buildings. All 447 bodies from the burial site were exhumed and reburied on a hill, including the remains of people whose identities have still not been established.
Defense around the city
Izium is an important logistics hub for the Ukrainian military. Defensive lines have been set up on the approaches to the city, with minefields, several layers of barbed wire, trenches and concrete anti-tank obstacles. An anti-drone net was installed over the road beyond one of the checkpoints.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
The commander of the 96th Separate Support Battalion of the Third Army Corps, call sign Coach, said that the fortifications are preparation for various scenarios, rather than evidence of the city's imminent recapture. According to him, Russian forces may intensify attempts to hinder the movement of troops and equipment toward Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.
Life under shelling
Izium's population currently stands at about 28,000 people, compared with approximately 45,000 before the start of the full-scale invasion. The city's cinema, city council building and School No. 1 have been damaged. The advancing front has also suspended some major investment projects, including plans to create underground schools.
Local residents told the publication that they stockpile food and shelter in basements during Russian airstrikes. Yurii Kuznetsov, a surgeon at Izium's main hospital, noted that nearly all of his patients have injuries related to drone attacks. Deputy Mayor Volodymyr Matsokin said that despite the anxiety, residents are trying to retain hope and rebuild life in the city.
