Ukraine presses charges against chiefs of "Volnovakha Penal Colony" over mass killing of POWs in Olenivka
The head of the so-called Volnovakha Penal Colony and his deputy were charged over the mass killing of Ukrainian prisoners of war in Olenivka in July 2022.
That’s according to press service of the Prosecutor General's Office, Ukrinform reports.
"At this time, enough evidence has been obtained to press charges against the head of the so-called Volnovakha Penal Colony and his first deputy with violating the laws and customs of war," the report says.
In the course of the pre-trial investigation, the Security Service operatives established that after the explosion, despite the large casualty toll, the suspects deliberately delayed emergency medical aid and evacuation of injured servicemen to a hospital.
Also, they failed to provide proper and sufficient medications and other means of medical assistance. All this led to the deaths of nine Azov servicemen, who succumbed to their injuries.
The prosecutor's office recalled that on July 29, 2022, a criminal case was initiated into the mass murder of Ukrainian prisoners of war under Part 2 of Art. 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (violation of the laws and customs of war, combined with intentional murder).
According to the inquiry, the explosions occurred between 23:00 on July 28 and 01:00 on July 29, 2022.
According to the data obtained, at that time, 193 prisoners of war, all fighters from the Azov Regiment, were held in the Olenivka barracks.
As a result of the explosions, at least 41 servicemen were killed immediately. Another nine died as a result of untimely and improper provision of medical assistance. About 150 Ukrainian soldiers sustained injuries of various degrees of severity.
During the investigation, 20 victims and more than 30 witnesses were interviewed.
As part of the proceedings, 48 forensic medical examinations were carried out, including molecular and genetic ones, as well as a comprehensive examination of weapons, as well as traces and circumstances of their use.
Open source data, as well as data from intelligence and law enforcement agencies, have been studied.
To date, it has been possible to identify 49 servicemen killed in Olenivka, including 48 – through DNA tests and one – through a witness testimony.
Despite the fact that Ukrainian servicemen, held in captivity, shall be protected under the Geneva Convention, the invaders never allowed international organizations to inspect the scene of the incident. Instead, they tried to destroy or cover up the evidence of the crime, the PGO noted.
Currently, the investigation is ongoing as Ukrainian law enforcers are working to identify all those responsible for the murder of Ukrainian prisoners of war in Olenivka.
It should be recalled that in the night hours of July 29, 2022, as a result of an explosion on the territory of the former Volnovakha correctional colony No. 120 in the temporarily occupied Olenivka, at least 50 Ukrainian servicemen who were held captive there were killed, and about 150 were injured.
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