Global InformationOlenivka prison massacre information
| Olenivka prison massacre | |
|---|---|
| Part of war crimes in the Russian invasion of Ukraine | |
 Barracks in Olenivka | |
| Location | Filtration camp on the territory of the former Volnovakha corrective colony (№120) Molodizhne, Kalmiuske Raion, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine (occupied by Russia, controlled by the Donetsk People's Republic) |
| Coordinates | 47°49′42″N 37°42′39″E / 47.82846°N 37.71093°E |
| Date | 29 July 2022 |
Attack type | explosions and/or fire in the building |
| Deaths | 53-62+ |
| Injured | 75-130+ |
| Perpetrators | Russian Armed Forces (alleged) |
  
100m 110yds  
Filtration camp     | |
On 29 July 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a building housing Ukrainian prisoners of war in a Russian-operated prison in Molodizhne near Olenivka, Donetsk Oblast, was destroyed, killing 53 to 62 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) and leaving 75 to 130 wounded. The prisoners were mainly soldiers from the Azovstal complex, the last Ukrainian stronghold in the siege of Mariupol.[1]
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said that the Russians blew up the barracks in order to cover up the torture and murder of Ukrainian POWs that had been taking place there, and Ukrainian authorities provided what they said were satellite images of pre-dug graves and intercepted communications indicating Russian culpability,[2][3] while Russians suggested that a HIMARS rocket was shot from Ukrainian territory.[4] Independent investigations based on the work of forensic and weapons experts, as well as satellite images, found that the Russian version of events is very likely fabrication and disinformation, as there is virtually no chance that the damage was caused by a HIMARS rocket and instead evidence suggests the prison was blown up by a bomb detonated within the building.[5][6][3]
On 3 August, the UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres announced his decision to establish a fact-finding mission, as requested both by Russia and Ukraine.[7][8] However, Russia refused to cooperate with the UN and International Red Cross, and the fact-finding mission was disbanded.[9][10]
- ^ "Admission of guilt: Russia blocks international investigation of Olenivka mass killing of Ukrainian POWs". Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group. Archived from the original on 30 September 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
- ^ "Russians struck Olenivka to cover up the torture and execution of prisoners General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine". news.yahoo.com. 29 July 2022. Archived from the original on 30 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- ^ a b "'Absolute evil': Inside the Russian prison camp where dozens of Ukrainians burned to death". TheGuardian.com. 6 August 2022. Archived from the original on 30 September 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
- ^ "Russia says Ukraine struck prison in Donetsk region, killing 40". Reuters. 29 July 2022. Archived from the original on 30 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
CNN Special Reportwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "UN rejects Russian account of attack that killed 50 Ukrainian prisoners, confirming findings of a CNN investigation". 25 July 2023.
Experts consulted by CNN discounted a HIMARS strike on Olenivka – but could not say definitively what killed and wounded so many prisoners. The investigation noted that "experts say most signs point to an intense fire, and according to several witnesses there was no sound of an incoming rocket." [...] The OHCHR said that it had been able to "conduct extensive interviews with survivors of the incident at Olenivka and undertaken detailed analysis of available additional information…While the precise circumstances of the incident on the night of 28-29 July 2022 remain unclear, the information available and our analysis enable the Office to conclude that it was not caused by a HIMARS rocket."
- ^ "U.N. chief launches fact-finding mission into Ukraine prison attack". Reuters. 4 August 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
- ^ "UN fact-finding mission members appointed for Donetsk prison attack". Business Standard. 23 August 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
- ^ "Russia-Ukraine war live: Putin's ceasefire proposal shows he is 'trying to find oxygen', says Biden". The Guardian. 5 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
- ^ "Red Cross denied access to prisoners at Russian-held Olenivka despite 'intense' talks -ICRC chief". Reuters. September 2022.