The documentary film The Grave tells the story of the search for justice and accountability following the discovery of a mass grave in the autumn of 2022 in a forest near the city of Izium in northeastern Ukraine. This occurred after six months of brutal Russian occupation in 2022. At that time, nearly 450 bodies were found: some had been tortured, others executed, and some killed by relentless shelling of the area.
While the families of the deceased and their loved ones seek justice for the alleged war crimes, others are still trying to find missing relatives — fearing they may be among the dead.
The film, produced as part of the BAFTA-winning Exposure series, combines harrowing testimonies from those who survived the occupation with exclusive access to Ukrainian investigators and special services personnel who are tracking down Russians believed to be responsible for these crimes.
As one investigator stated: "What the Russian military did is a crime against humanity. It can be called genocide".
Content warning: depiction of war
The Grave (2024), Kharkiv: City Under Siege (2022)
