Lubinets calls on UN and ICRC to investigate killing of Ukrainian prisoners in Olenivka
The mass murder of Ukrainian prisoners of war in Olenivka is a manifestation of the occupiers' weakness and their fear even of unarmed Ukrainian defenders. Unfortunately, the insufficient response of international organisations and world leaders also shows their weakness.
This is emphasised by the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets, Censor.NET reports.
He recalls that on the night of 28-29 July 2022, Russians attacked the colony in Olenivka, where some Ukrainian prisoners of war from Azovstal were held. The attack killed more than 50 Ukrainian soldiers and injured about 130 others.
"The victims had the official status of prisoners of war and were verified by the ICRC! They were subject to the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War. Immediately after the explosion, Russia accused Ukraine of shelling, which was allegedly carried out using HIMARS. Ukraine appealed to the UN and the ICRC as guarantors of the agreements regarding the Azovstal defenders held in Olenivka. The agreements stipulated that they would be spared and subsequently exchanged. Both organisations expressed their readiness to investigate the mass murder of prisoners!" Lubinets adds.
On 3 August 2022, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the organisation was preparing a group of experts to investigate the deaths of prisoners in Olenivka. 5 months later, he disbanded the mission to establish the facts of the strike on the colony in Olenivka due to the lack of security guarantees!
"Russia has not granted access to Olenivka to either Ukraine or international organisations. However, another factor that could possibly be the reason for the dissolution of the mission is that out of the three foreigners who are part of it, virtually all of them are under Russian influence.
The UN mission has never agreed to get acquainted with the Ukrainian materials on the explosion in the colony. I have repeatedly tried to meet with its members and expressed my readiness to personally hand over the materials that Ukraine has," the ombudsman adds.
On 11 October, the bodies of 62 Ukrainian servicemen were returned to the territory controlled by Ukraine. Among them are those killed in Olenivka. We also managed to return several wounded who were in the blown-up barracks.
"I also offered the Russian Ombudsman to visit the site of the tragedy together, but she refused. On 25 July 2023, the UN made a statement that the attack in Olenivka "was not caused by a HIMARS missile". This refutes the propaganda claims of the Russian side. Ukraine demands that the UN mission resume its work as soon as possible or that a new mission be set up to thoroughly investigate the terrorist attack in Olenivka," Lubinets said.
"The crime in Olenivka still remains unpunished. Anyone involved in the attack must be held to the strictest account. We are doing everything to ensure this happens as soon as possible. I call on the UN and the ICRC to fulfil their mandate and investigate the attack. This crime has no statute of limitations and will not be covered up!" he concludes.
As a reminder, on the night of 29 July 2022, a powerful explosion occurred in the building where Ukrainian prisoners of war were held in the former penal colony No. 210 in the village of Olenivka in the temporarily occupied territory of Donetsk Oblast.
According to the Russian side, about 50 Ukrainian defenders were killed and more than 70 others were seriously injured.
The International Commission of the Red Cross tried to get to the crime scene but was prevented by the Russian occupiers.
Prosecutor General Kostin released information that the prisoners were killed using thermobaric weapons.
In August 2022, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres set up a commission to investigate the terrorist attack in occupied Olenivka, which killed about 50 Ukrainian prisoners of war. However, in January 2023, after failing to receive security guarantees from the Russians, Guterres disbanded the mission.
