Ukraine calls for ICC investigation into POW killings in Olenivka

The statement was made by the Regional Center for Human Rights along with partners including the Media Initiative for Human Rights, the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union, Yahad-In Unum, OSINT FOR UKRAINE, and the Olenivka Community.

Human rights organizations found that the two explosions in the barracks, which caused a fire on the night of July 28-29, 2022, at penal colony No. 120 in Volnovakha, were a deliberate attack by Russia. This is confirmed by physical evidence, witness testimonies, and expert conclusions. At the time of the tragedy, the colony was under full control of Russian occupying forces, which confirms Russia's responsibility.

As a result of the explosion, at least 45 prisoners were killed, another at least 9 died due to lack of medical assistance, and about 140 were injured to various degrees. In total, about 200 people were victims of the tragedy.

Human rights defenders have also managed to identify individuals likely involved in committing these crimes. According to their findings, these include the head of the colony, Serhiy Yevsyukov; the director of the Penitentiary Service of the Donetsk People’s Republic, Yuriy Doroshenko; Russian General Sergey Surovikin; the head of the Russian Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, and others.

All collected evidence, along with testimonies from victims, expert research results, and photo and video materials, have been submitted to the International Criminal Court.

Human rights defenders have appealed to the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to promptly initiate an investigation into the facts of the mass killing and torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war in Olenivka, which have signs of war crimes under Article 28 and Article 8(2)(a)(i-ii) of the Rome Statute.

They also request the issuance of arrest warrants for the responsible individuals through the pre-trial chamber due to the indications of the mentioned war crimes in their actions.

“We believe that international justice will demonstrate its unwavering stance, and those responsible for these horrific war crimes will face the deserved punishment,” Ukrainian human rights defenders emphasized.

Attack in Olenivka

Russian Armed Forces carried out a targeted, deliberate artillery strike on a correctional facility in Olenivka, Donetsk region, where Ukrainian prisoners of war were being held, on the night of July 29, 2022.

The explosion destroyed the building where Ukrainian POWs were held, resulting in 53 killed and over 130 injured.

Russia accused Ukraine of carrying out the attack, claiming it was done using a HIMARS rocket system that Kyiv received from the United States. Russia even showed debris, supposedly from the projectile found at the scene. The Russian Ministry of Defense invited experts from the UN and the Red Cross to the penal colony in Olenivka, but access to the site was denied to international representatives.

On October 11, 2022, Ukraine managed to return the bodies of 62 soldiers, including those killed during the mass execution in Olenivka. However, the exact number of victims and the list of the deceased will only be determined after identification.

On July 25, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk refuted Russia's claims that the Olenivka prison was allegedly attacked by HIMARS rocket systems, and condemned the lack of accountability for the killings of Ukrainian prisoners of war.

On July 29, the Security Service of Ukraine announced charges against those responsible for the mass killing of Ukrainian prisoners of war in Olenivka, Donetsk region in July 2022 - former head of the Volnovakha colony of the Donetsk People’s Republic, Serhiy Yevsyukov and his former first deputy Dmitry Neyolov.