U.S. lawmakers say they have seen evidence from reliable sources that Russia is using mobile crematoriums to hide its involvement in eastern Ukraine’s unrest.
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry of Texas and Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, a Democrat colleague on the committee, made the claims in an interview with Bloomberg News.
“The Russians are trying to hide their casualties by taking mobile crematoriums with them. They are trying to hide not only from the world but from the Russian people their involvement,” Mr. Thornberry said, Bloomberg reported.
Mr. Moulton backed the allegation. Both men have traveled to Ukraine.
“We heard this from a variety of sources over there, enough that I was confident in the veracity of the information. … The fact that they would resort to burning the bodies of their own soldiers is horrific and shameful,” Mr. Moulton told Bloomberg.
U.S. Army Europe Commander Ben Hodges said in March that he estimated Russia had 12,000 soldiers in Eastern Ukraine. His assessment was made just weeks after the U.K. Joint Delegation to NATO released images of Russian SA-22 surface-to-air missile systems it said were operating in Ukraine.
SEE ALSO: Russia’s advanced anti-aircraft artillery system in Ukraine; U.K. releases SA-22 photos
Russia has repeatedly denied any involvement in eastern Ukraine.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.