NYT journalists identify dozens of Russian army soldiers involved in killings of Ukrainians in Bucha
The New York Times published a new investigation into the killing of civilians by the Russian army in Bucha near Kyiv.
Journalists were able to identify those responsible for the deliberate killing of civilians on Yablunska Street. They identified dozens of Russian soldiers from the 234th Air Assault Regiment.
During the journalistic investigation, they analyzed phone records, documents, interviews and thousands of hours of video. They then reconstructed how the Russians killed civilians on Yablunska Street in Bucha.
Although there were many Russian units in Bucha, and the total number of civilians killed exceeded 400, it was the 234th Air Assault Regiment of the Russian Army that was the main perpetrator of the crimes on Yablunska Street. This is confirmed by equipment, radio intercepts, as well as signs on military equipment.
Screenshot: NYT
The regiment is based in Pskov and is part of the 76th Air Assault Division. This regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Artem Gorodilov.
The Russian military reportedly confiscated mobile phones from the victims and immediately called Russia. The occupants used the phones of some victims in Yablunska for personal calls almost immediately after the murder.
Screenshot: NYT
The journalists collected phone numbers of the killed civilians and searched them in the database. Thus, it was established that Russian troops called their relatives and friends in Russia from the numbers of the killed civilians. In total, they managed to identify about 20 Russian paratroopers from the 234th regiment.
Screenshot: NYT
Journalists also managed to identify the bodies of 36 Russian victims on Yablonska Street in Bucha.
The NYT notes that they cannot be sure that these people killed certain people in Bucha, but there is other evidence of the presence of the 234th regiment in Ukraine.
In particular, before the invasion, a Russian colonel from this regiment, Artem Gorodilov, was in Belarus among the Russian military. A commander similar to Gorodilov was also spotted in Bucha.
He and two guards walked the streets of the city near the bodies of Ukrainian civilians. And after the escape of the Russian army from Kyiv region, Gorodilov was promoted to colonel in early April.
