It is classic from the beginning of the conflict. Ukraine and Russia accuse each other of bombing civilians. This Friday, July 29, a prison was targeted by gunfire in Olenivka, Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine. The rocket fire killed dozens of people, up to 53, according to pro-Russian separatist authorities, where Ukrainian soldiers have been imprisoned since May.
- Destruction of the prison building in Olenivka
The bombing took place between Thursday and Friday night. The explosions destroyed a prison building in the town of Olenivka, located in the separatist region of Donetsk, several kilometers from the front line, in eastern Ukraine.
Russian public television, for its part, broadcast images of charred barracks and destroyed metal bed frames. He showed blurry images of human bodies.
- Several dozen Ukrainian prisoners of war died
A precise assessment of the attack is still difficult to establish. Denis Pushilin, the leader of pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk, told Russia’s Rossiya 24 TV channel that 47 people had been killed, while separatist territorial defense forces reported 53 casualties, adding that no guards were killed, killed or injured. In turn, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on Friday.the attack of the occupiers“did”more than 50 victims».
Earlier, the Russian army reported 40 dead and 75 wounded.
- “They deserve a humiliating death”Fighters of the Azov Battalion were targeted by the Russian Embassy’s tweets
The Azov Regiment stood out in the defense of Mariupol. After weeks of siege and resistance at the Azovstal steel plant, some 2,500 Ukrainian fighters surrendered to the Russian army in May. Moscow announced that they will be imprisoned in Olenivka.
Tensions over the fate of thousands of Ukrainian prisoners of war held by the Russians or Donbas separatists were heightened Friday night by a note from the Russian embassy in the UK that specifically targeted the Ukrainian nationalist Azov regiment fighting in Mariupol.
“The fighters of Azov deserve the death penalty, but not by firearms, by gallows. They are not real soldiers. They deserve a humiliating death.”can we read this tweet in english?
- Moscow blames Kiev, the Ukrainian General Staff denies
At first, Moscow blames Kiev. The Russian Investigative Committee announced the shelling of Olenivka already on Friday, saying that the Ukrainian forces themselves. “With the use of American shells of the Himars system, they shot at the prison where the members of the Azov battalion are located.”High-precision multiple rocket launchers delivered by the United States.
“This flagrant provocation aims to frighten Ukrainian soldiers and prevent them from surrendering.”they assured the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
However, the General Staff of Ukraine denied the allegations, saying they were “accuse Ukraine of committing war crimes” and: “Cover up the torture and execution of prisoners” who have been there “done”. According to Ukrainian intelligence, the attack “implemented by Wagner Division mercenaries” – A Russian company of mercenaries accused of crimes in Syria and especially in Africa – and: “It was not agreed with the management” The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation specified the main headquarters of Ukraine.
As for Ukrainian human rights defender Dmitry Lubinetski, he confirmed that according to the analysis of the Russian video, the only element present at this stage. “The explosion was inside” from the barracks and not after the bombing.
- Vladimir Zelensky alludes to a “premeditated Russian war crime”, challenges the UN and the Red Cross.
There is a strike in Olenivka prison “Russian deliberate war crime, deliberate mass murder”.then the head of the Ukrainian state said.
“When the defenders of Azovstal left the factory, the UN and the ICRC acted as guarantors of the life and health of our soldiers”President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday evening, calling on the United Nations and the Red Cross.react“.
- Kiev and Moscow are asking the UN and the Red Cross to come and investigate
Ukrainian human rights activist Dmitry Lubinetsk announced on Saturday that he had asked the Red Cross and the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission, which oversaw the handover negotiated with the Russians of Mariupol’s Azovstal plant defenders in May, to go to Olenivka. .
On Sunday, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that it had invited experts from the United Nations and the Red Cross to investigate the death of dozens of Ukrainian prisoners in this prison. Moscow said to act “in the interests of building an objective investigation”.
- The European Union and France condemn
The European Union condemned Friday night “Atrocities committed by the Russian armed forces and their auxiliary forces”.in a statement by its head of diplomacy, Josep Borrell, targeting both the prison bombing and the allegations of torture and mutilation of a Ukrainian prisoner, a video of which has been shared on social media.
France reported “His horror at reports of killings and torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war in the Olenivka detention center under the protection of the Russian Federation.”adding that those responsible should, if necessary “to answer for their actions”.This is stated in the message of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Source: Le Figaro
