Second anniversary of Russian terrorist attack on PoW camp in Olenivka: Protest held in Kyiv – photos
A traditional Sunday meeting in support of the liberation of Ukrainian prisoners of war was held on the Maidan Nezalezhnosti Square in the city of Kyiv on 28 July. The meeting also honoured the memory of the Ukrainian soldiers killed in a Russian terrorist attack on a PoW camp in the occupied settlement of Olenivka in 2022.
Source: Suspilne
Details: About 1,000 people gathered to participate in the protest. Families and friends of the captured Azov soldiers and of Ukrainian marines, as well as dozens of soldiers from the Azov Brigade were present.
The Free Azov protest coincided with the second anniversary of the terrorist attack in Olenivka. In order to honour the memory of the fallen soldiers, the exhibition Olenivka: Quintessence of Cruelty was opened in the centre of Kyiv. It was organised by the representatives of the Association of Families of Defenders of the Azovstal Plant jointly with the National Museum of the Revolution of Dignity.
The memory of the victims of the terrorist act in Olenivka and of all the fallen defenders of Ukraine was honoured by a minute of silence.
The witnesses of the terrorist act, Ihor Poshyvailo, Director of the Museum of Revolution of Dignity, and commanders of the Azov Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, namely the Hero of Ukraine Sviatoslav Palamar aka Kalyna, Deputy Commander of the Brigade for Working with Personnel, have delivered speeches.
In his speech Palamar listed the demands from his fellow soldiers regarding the prisoners of war swaps. In particular, he insists that Azov defenders be liberated during future PoW swaps with Russia. He added that all the injured captives, including those injured during the terrorist act in Olenivka, should be a priority during the swaps. Palamar stressed that traitors should not be included in the swap lists.
"In conclusion, remember that if traitors and collaborators are included in forthcoming PoW swaps, do not expect a single heroic deed from our soldiers!" Palamar said.
In addition to this, Palamar stated that Azov Brigade soldiers had demanded from the Ukrainian government to approve 29 July as the Day of Remembrance for the Ukrainian defenders killed in the Russian terrorist attack in Olenivka, at the state level.
After voicing the demands, the soldiers said the Prayer of a Ukrainian Nationalist and launched fireworks.
During the protest the participants held up posters in support of the Ukrainian soldiers held captive by Russia. They also demanded the liberation of the soldiers from the Mariupol garrison.
Background:
- On the night of 28-29 July 2022, Russia committed a terrorist act in the occupied settlement of Olenivka, Donetsk Oblast, hitting barracks of a penal colony where Ukrainian prisoners of war were being held. At least 53 Azovstal Plant defenders were killed.
- On 29 July 2022 Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) reported that Ukrainian prisoners of war in Olenivka had been killed by the Wagner Group.
- The Security Service of Ukraine intercepted phone conversations in which the Russians confirmed that Russian troops were responsible for the explosion in the penal colony in Olenivka.
- On 25 July 2023 Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, criticised Russia for obstructing the independent investigation into the killing of Ukrainian PoWs in the Olenivka penal colony. The UN discarded Russian lies about it being a "Ukrainian strike".
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