Zelenskyy: Mass murder in Olenivka to be included in charges against Russian Federation at tribunal
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that the mass murder of Ukrainian servicemen in the Olenivka penal colony in Donetsk Oblast will be included in the charges brought against Russia at the international tribunal.
Source: Zelenskyy on Twitter
Quote: "Six months ago [29 July - ed.] Russia carried out a horrific terrorist attack in Olenivka. We will not allow this crime to be forgotten. We remember every fallen Ukrainian warrior. And are working to punish all those responsible for their deaths. The perpetrators will be found and brought to justice.
The insidious mass murder in Olenivka will be one of the charges at the international tribunal against the Russian aggressor."
6 months ago, Russia carried out a horrific terrorist attack in Olenivka. We won't allow this crime to be forgotten, we remember every killed 🇺🇦 warrior. And we're working to punish all those responsible for their deaths. The perpetrators will be found and brought to justice. 1/2
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 29, 2023
Background:
- On 29 July, Russian-aligned propaganda media announced the shelling of a penal colony in Olenivka, Donetsk Oblast, where Ukrainian prisoners of war were being held. They reported that the number of those killed stood at least 53.
- The General Staff of Ukraine denied Russian allegations that Ukraine was behind the attack. The General Staff said that Russia shelled the penal colony to cover up the torture and murders of Ukrainian prisoners of war.
- Ukrainian Intelligence believes that the killing of Ukrainian prisoners of war in Olenivka was organised by the Wagner Group [a Russian private military company] on the personal instructions of Yevgeny Prigozhin, without coordination with the leadership of the Russian Defence Ministry.
- Units of the Azov Regiment announced a hunt for all those involved in the mass murder of Ukrainian prisoners of war in Olenivka on 29 July.
- In October, the International Committee of the Red Cross stated that it cannot "force its way" into the Ukrainian prisoners of war, who are illegally held by the Russian Federation, but it "shares the disappointment" of Ukraine.
- On 29 January, the Office of the Ukrainian President complained that the International Committee of the Red Cross had failed to send a delegation to Olenivka during the past six months.
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