The reactions after the Ukrainian defense ministry tweeted a photo of what was found after the Russians were driven out of a village in the Kharkiv region were almost shocking.
“A mini-Auschwitz”, the foreign authorities wrote on their Twitter account.
A torture chamber in Pisky-Radkivski. 2 photos. A gas mask that was put on a victim’s head who was covered with a steaming rag and buried alive. And a box of gold dental crowns. A mini Auschwitz. How many more will there be in occupied Ukraine?
Photo @serhii_bolvinov pic.twitter.com/So4glJlt9N– Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) October 4, 2022
The images went viral, and many media outlets discussed the discovery, among other things TV 2 in this article.
The gold teeth were found along with a gas mask and other equipment known to be used in torture.
Now the German newspaper has Bild spoke to a local dentist who raises doubts about the background behind tooth picking.
He claims the teeth were stolen
– These look like the teeth that were in my cupboard at home. My house was ransacked, Sergej, 60, tells the newspaper.
He is the only dentist on site and explains that he has been pulling these teeth for several years. He suspects that the Russians thought the teeth were gold, but he explains that they are actually gold-plated stainless steel.
He also believes that the Russians used their teeth to intimidate the citizens they wanted to question.
Bild visited the dentist who still lives in the village of Pisky-Radkivski.
GAS MASK: This mask is said to have been used when people were buried alive Photo: Serhii Bolvinov / Twitter
Torture victim interviewed
The newspaper found no further information on the gas mask, also pictured in the same location, but spoke with people who were subjected to torture on the spot. They also spoke to neighbors who tell of screams and calls for help from various buildings.
– They took me with them. They beat me and said they would shoot me in the legs if I didn’t cooperate. The ceiling of the room was full of bullet holes, I think they were meant to scare, Volodya, 46, tells Bild.
