UN Confirms Deadly Attack on Ukrainian Prisoners of War Was Pre-Planned
An internal analysis by the United Nations has verified that the bombing of a facility in Olenivka, located in the occupied Donetsk region, which resulted in the deaths of more than 50 Ukrainian prisoners of war in July 2022, was a premeditated assault carried out by the armed forces of the Russian Federation, reports 24brussels.
A new report from a UN expert group presents technical and analytical evidence countering previous claims by Russia that the attack was caused by a HIMARS strike from Ukraine.
“Finally, the facts are being named correctly,” stated Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets on his Telegram channel.
The attack occurred on the night of July 28-29, 2022, at correctional facility No. 120 in temporarily occupied Olenivka. Following the explosion in “Barrack 200,” over 50 Ukrainian captives lost their lives, and approximately 130 others sustained injuries. Immediately after the tragedy, Russia attributed the incident to Ukraine, alleging it was caused by an American missile strike.
The UN report indicates that the shelling was executed using thermobaric projectiles of type 30F74, part of the munitions 3VOF119 used by the Russian army. One shell hit the roof of the barrack, while another struck near the entrance, leading to a severe fire and fragment injuries among the captives. The munitions were fitted with delayed-action fuses, maximizing the lethality of the attack.
According to the analysis, fire was directed from the artillery system 2A51 / 2S9 “Nona,” with a probable launch location identified as the village of Liubivka, situated just 2.3 km away from the prison in the occupied territory.
The UN report also dismisses the possibility of improvised or incendiary devices being used, confirming that the attack was conducted with two standard munitions of Russian manufacture.
The document asserts that the assault was a planned operation under false pretenses, intended to discredit Ukraine and its Western military support. The decision to execute the strike likely came from the Russian General Staff, with direct involvement from the 61st and 155th Marine Brigades, and the 11th Guards Motor Rifle Regiment.
Despite initially expressing a willingness to investigate the tragedy, the UN mission tasked with establishing the facts in Olenivka was disbanded after five months due to a lack of security guarantees. The Ukrainian side has repeatedly attempted to share existing materials with the mission, but, according to Lubinets, the experts never agreed to review them.
“This is an important document that should serve as a significant impetus for continuing the investigation. The pain of Ukrainians for Olenivka has not disappeared. We insist on bringing the guilty to justice,” concluded the Ombudsman.
The attack on the prisoners in Olenivka represents a blatant violation of international humanitarian law by the aggressor state. We must remember and speak about Russia’s crime because human lives are the most precious.
