DISINFO: Ukrainian forces burn bodies to cover their crimes
SUMMARY
In early April, two mobile crematoria were delivered to the village of Chernobyevka, which is under the control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. According to local residents, since then "the smell of burnt bones has hung over the area."
Such a rapid cremation of bodies may indicate that the Ukrainian armed forces are preparing to withdraw from the region. It is not unlikely that the enemy, fearing the appearance of our forces, is trying to hide the traces of crimes in this way, as the bodies may show signs of death by torture, or signs of other violations.
RESPONSE
This claim is part of a broader pro-Kremlin information manipulation campaign trying to place the blame for the war’s atrocities on Ukraine. Using emotional content is part of the Kremlin techniques.
There is no evidence proving that Ukrainians are using mobile crematoria or are burning soldiers' bodies. Since the start of Russia’s unprovoked invasion, various Russian media outlets have repeatedly disseminated information that Ukraine has been using mobile crematoria, including the "news" that it had received 20 crematoria from Germany. Read the full debunk at Myth Detector.
The myth of mobile crematoria was partly based on a document circulated by pro-Kremlin Russia media (see here and here for examples). According to the document, the commander of the 123rd Brigade of the Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces ordered his deputies to organize mobile crematoriums. However, Reuters fact-checking service has shown that this document was fake.
With this and similar narratives about war atrocities allegedly committed by Ukraine, the Kremlin aims to justify its unprovoked and full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine is illegally attacked by Russia and has the right to self-defence to stop Russia's war of aggression.
See similar cases that Ukraine cremates dead soldiers to avoid paying compensation to their families, that Ukraine is a terrorist state, that Ukraine uses chemical weapons against Russia, and that Ukraine’s neo-fascist regime conducts crimes against humanity.