even for one public opinion saturated horror of warthose images taken at the detention center Olenivkanear DonetskOnce again in territory under the control of pro-Russian militias Ukrainetowards the end of July the center of attention of the world media. in an industrial hangar destroyed by spooky fire, charred corpses all prisoners of war defenders of Mariupol and those belonging to the so-called Azov battalion, lying on bent bunks blackened by flames. Outside, the queues dead bodies exposed to the sun and dressed camouflage clothing.
Leaders who try to be the first to correct the narrative of events, Russia and self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic According to their version, they immediately blamed the Ukrainian Army for deliberately attacking their POWs with US-supplied “high-precision HIMARS shells” to prevent them from confessing. “crimes” to Russian interrogators. As military experts agree that the damage has been confirmed, as the days pass, Moscow’s theses are increasingly questioned and even cast aside. they are not consistent Confirmation of ex-convicts’ testimonies, with gun allegedly used detail this is a sign rush transfer It was reported that the deceased was taken to the scene of the massacre days before, following reasons that have not yet been determined.
“It does not correspond to an attack with HIMARS,” he said in an email to EL PERIÓDICO (a newspaper that is a member of the Prince Ibérica group as well as this media). Tony Ropperis a freelance military analyst with his own private blog. There must have been a series of eruptions in the area, meaning “multiple craters,” he continues. As the Russian side claimed, “if one bullet had gone through the roof, the others would have hit the roof. build walls, create destruction; This is something that has not happened.” Images provided by Russia show the entire interior of the building. charredbut with walls still standing. According to him, “the fire was started manually inside.” The analyst concludes that if “there was an explosion”, it was “caused by an explosion”. grenade To prove it exactly, it’s a blast.
Satellite images taken days before the event also show other details of interest to analysts: extreme Soil had been removed from the prison compound. Roper does not exclude that this is about it. tombs, open before the tragedy, but does not dare to confirm it 100%. Yes, it seems very strange to him that in the photos after the fire there are almost uninjured corpses on stretchers. All this makes it possible for at least some of the prisoners to “they were already dead before” event.
some certainties
Despite the barrage of questions, there is some certainty about it. Olenivka massacre. Coinciding with the surrender of soldiers at the Azovstal factory in Mariúpol in May, civilian prisoners confirmed to this newspaper: Russian authorities they took charge of the prison shortly before their arrival; many were mistreated and beaten. But most of all, they documented that until a few weeks before the tragedy, the hangar where the massacre took place was abandoned because it was in an industrial area where no one was approaching.
Yevhen MaliarchukA businessman arrested in Mariupol in March while trying to bring humanitarian aid to the city was later held on the second floor of the prison’s disciplinary wing. He also remembers the beatings that Azov prisoners were subjected to on the ground floor: “We could all hear those frightening sounds, those beatings, those groans, those screams.”
Confirmed by his statement Anna Vorosheva, also a businesswoman like Yevhén, who was arrested while trying to enter the besieged city with supplies. Also detained in the criminal department, Vorosheva claims to have heard everything: “They were brought from the barracks; two or three people (each time), the guards beat them and then left. All they asked was: ‘Did you understand what we wanted to hear from you?’ Then the inspector came for questioning. I think (beating) was preparation for something,” says this woman, who does not rule out that they wanted to make a “propaganda video” with them.
Anna and Yevhén were released a few weeks before the massacre. And when they found out what was on the news, they had a strange reaction. Vorosheva emphasizes that the burning hangar “is in the industrial zone of the colony; no one goes there, not even to clean it.” “I spent 100 days in that prison, I was in all the facilities, and I can say it’s a deserted area, I think they transferred the prisoners there for a purpose,” Maliarchuk said.
kyiv terrorism talks
for a few members Azov battalion Those in Mariupol, Olenivka, who were exchanged with the Russians and able to return to their homes, a foretold massacre, A lesson from the Kremlin against some symbolic army he hates. Vladislav Zhayvoronok, He claims to have heard news of what would happen during his stay in Donetsk, who lost many of his colleagues in the fire. Wounded during the siege of Azovstal, this young 29-year-old soldier was transported to the hospital unconscious in pro-Russian hands when the battalion was attacked. handed over position. And there it was, “Every week the nurses, the doctors, or the wards came to us with the news: ‘Your guys are shooting at you,’ two and a half months before it happened, as if they were foretelling.”
this government Kyiv He is already talking about a war crime and demanding an international investigation, while the lack of news from Moscow and distrust of any information frightens relatives. Russia has published dead list continues with contradictions as well as without permission. International Committee of the Red Cross As for the UN, to inspect the place. Sandra KrottevychThe prisoner Bogdan’s sister has not heard from him since Azovstal’s release. And although his name is not on the list of fate, he does not trust: “I will believe that you are alive only when I hear your voice.”