Occupiers report new attack on POW camp in Olenivka, Ukrainian prisoner of war dies

ROMAN PETRENKO – SUNDAY, 18 SEPTEMBER 2022, 13:59

Russian occupying forces reported that on 18 September at about 9:00, a POW camp in Olenivka (Donetsk region) was struck again; a Ukrainian prisoner of war died in the attack.

Source: the Russian occupying administration; Russian media

Details: According to the "Ministry of Justice" of the self-proclaimed "Donetsk People’s Republic", a Ukrainian prisoner of war died as a result of the attack, and five more prisoners were injured.

There are no victims among Russians.

Why is this important: During the first attack on the penal colony in July, Russians claimed it was the Armed Forces of Ukraine that had opened fire, using HIMARS [US-made multiple launch rocket systems - ed.].

Later, CNN released an investigation, which retracted the Russian theory; "the video [showed by Russians to confirm it] did not feature a hole [left by a missile in the ground]; the beds stood where they were; the pillars were intact, but massive damage from a fire was visible". According to experts, a HIMARS-launched missile would have left a hole in the ground, and it would have caused way more damage.   

Ukraine would have never used expensive HIMARS to hit a target that was only 15 kilometres away from the front line.

The Ukrainian government states that the fire in the penal colony’s barracks was caused by thermobaric weapons. 

In an interview with Ukrainska Pravda, Mykyta Nadtochiy, the Acting Commander of Azov regiment reported that in Olenivka, Russians could have used RPO-A Shmel [Russian for ‘bumblebee’ - ed.], a man-portable rocket-assisted flamethrower; it burns the oxygen out quickly, and a victim burns down in a matter of seconds.

Background:

• On 29 July, Russian media reported an attack on the penal colony in Olenivka had taken place, where Ukrainian captives were held. The propagandists claimed at least 53 fatalities. 
• The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces retracted Russia’s allegations that the attack was ostensibly landed by Ukrainian troops. The General Staff also reported that Russians had tried to conceal the tortures and murders of captives. 
• The Ukrainian Intelligence assumes that the mass murder of Ukrainian POWs in Olenivka was organised by mercenaries from Wagner PMC [private military company], who were instructed by Evgeny Prigozhin; however, it was not discussed or approved by the Russian Defence Ministry. 
• The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) recorded phone conversations between occupants, in which they confirmed it was them who had been responsible for the explosion in the colony of the occupied Olenivka.
• Units of Azov regiment stated they would start hunting for those involved in the murder of Ukrainian POWs in Olenivka.

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