According to Ukraine’s Defense Ministry Intelligence Directorate, the explosion in a penal colony in Russian-occupied Olenivka, Donetsk Oblast, was ordered by the owner of the Russian-controlled private military Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, and was not coordinated with the Russian Defense Ministry.
However, Ukraine’s General Staff earlier said that Russia attacked the colony to destroy the evidence of torturing and killing Ukrainian POWs.
According to the Prosecutor General's Office, around 40 Ukrainian prisoners of war were killed, and 130 were injured in the Russian attack on the Olenivka penal colony, where Russian proxies held the defenders of Mariupol who were supposed to be exchanged.
Independent journalism needs a community —
not a paywall.
We’re working hard to show the world the truth of Russia’s brutal war — and we’re keeping it free for everyone, because reliable information should be available to all.
More than 20,000 people chose to stand behind us. We’re deeply grateful and overwhelmed with your support. Thank you for making it possible.
(Updated: )
