Ukraine is demanding that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) send a mission to the colony in the occupied Olenivka, where Russians hold many Ukrainian prisoners of war and where a terrorist attack was committed on 29 July.

As the press service of the Office of the President of Ukraine reports, the head of the President’s Office, Andriy Yermak, demanded without alternatives to the ICRC to send a mission to the place of detention of prisoners within three days.

“We gave the ICRC three days to send a mission to the colony in Olenivka, where Ukrainian prisoners of war are held… Otherwise, Ukraine will use all possible informational and diplomatic means to move this issue from stalemate. Together with our partners, we will be able to find a way to form an expert group and find people who will be willing to carry out the mission that the Red Cross has to carry out,” Yermak said.

He noted that the killing of Ukrainian prisoners in Olenivka at the end of July was discussed during a video call with representatives of the ICRC and other international organisations.

“I don’t understand why the Red Cross mission has not yet arrived in Olenivka during this entire period. There is no time to wait, as it is about human lives. Therefore, we call for the Red Cross mission, with international media representatives, to arrive in Ukraine within three days, even if no confirmation is received from Russia by this time. And we are sure that Russia is not interested in the truth being known. We call to send a mission that will be on the frontline until Russia issues these permits,” the official stressed.

He assured that Ukraine would facilitate this mission in every possible way. MPs of Ukraine are ready to join it. International partners, leading TV channels, and other mass media also can join the mission.

Bohdan Marusyak

All News ›