1/ Olenivka was a planned execution. Almost two years later, we now have a near-minute-by-minute reconstruction of what happened in that prison on the night of July 28-29, 2022. This was not an accident. It was a calculated war crime. #OlenivkaMassacre #RussianWarCrimes
2/ Ukrainian & foreign experts, with testimonies from survivors, have pieced together the truth: russia deliberately murdered Ukrainian POWs. They were locked in a newly converted barracks, unable to escape. Then came the explosions. <i></i>
3/ The Setup:
July 27 – The barracks were hastily prepared with mattresses & pillows.
July 28 – 200 POWs were moved in. Beds were crammed so tightly, escape was impossible.
That night – Guards left, prisoners were locked in. Then came two explosions. <i></i>
4/ The explosions were not from a HIMARS strike, as russia falsely claimed. Evidence shows they came from inside—likely from a thermobaric weapon ("Shmel"), designed to burn everything & everyone in its path. <i></i>
5/ At least 53 Ukrainian POWs were murdered. Some died instantly. Others suffered in agony because russia refused medical aid. Ukrainian medics inside the prison were banned from helping. <i></i>
6/ Who gave the orders? Investigators identified those responsible:
Yuriy Doroshenko, head of the "DPR" penitentiary system
Kirill Popov, russian FSIN officer stationed in Olenivka
Arkady Gostev & russian top penitentiary officials
Sergei Surovikin, commander of russian forces in Ukraine at the time <i></i>
7/ Surovikin was later promoted. Putin rewarded this war crime. There was no internal investigation. Instead, russian officials covered up evidence & fabricated reports blaming Ukraine. <i></i>
8/ The ICC has been given all this evidence. This was murder and torture of POWs—clear violations of the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute. russia's leaders must face justice. <i></i>
9/ Yet, international institutions remain paralyzed. The European Court of Human Rights is inactive. The UN has no investigative procedure. The petition to recognize a day of mourning for the victims? Ignored. <i></i>
10/ Meanwhile, families of the victims wait. Some bodies are still unidentified. Some names remain lost in russian dungeons. And the world, once outraged, has moved on. <i></i>
11/ We cannot let Olenivka be forgotten. Share their names. Demand justice. Keep speaking about this massacre. War crimes must be punished. If they go unpunished, they will happen again. #OlenivkaMassacre <i></i>