Zelensky Marks Olenivka Anniversary, Confirms 9,613 Prisoners of War Freed

Ukraine is marking the anniversary of the Olenivka prison camp massacre, which took place on the night of July 28 to 29, 2022, when Russian forces killed more than 50 Ukrainian prisoners of war and wounded over 100 others. President Volodymyr Zelensky detailed the anniversary in a statement on Telegram, calling the Olenivka killings one of the clearest examples of what Russia represents as a state. Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine has recovered 9,613 people from Russian captivity.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “This is one of those war crimes that shows what Russia truly is,” Zelensky said. “It is a state that disrespects life completely, an absolute evil that cannot stop itself from killing,” he continued. Olenivka killings remains among deadliest incidents against POWs Overnight on July 29, 2022, an explosion tore through the barracks holding Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) in Russian-occupied Olenivka, a village in the Donetsk region, killing and wounding detained soldiers. Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) said on Aug. 4, 2022, that the blast was the result of a deliberate terrorist attack, with Russian forces planting explosives inside the prison camp before detonating them. Around the same time, the Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) said the killings were carried out by fighters from the Wagner private military company, widely believed to be financed by Russian oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close ally of the Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. Other Topics of Interest US Senators Reach Deal on Russia, Iran Sanctions Bill A bipartisan group of US senators reached a deal on legislation expanding sanctions against Russia and Iran, giving President Donald Trump broader powers to target major buyers of Russian energy. While Russia accused Ukraine of shelling the prison camp, Ukrainian authorities maintain they never attacked Olenivka, instead accusing Moscow of deliberately targeting the facility to eliminate evidence of POW mistreatment. “We must always remember who we are dealing with,” Zelensky said, adding that Ukraine continues to press for the return of all remaining prisoners, both military and civilian. Thousands remain in Russian captivity, Zelensky says Despite the nearly 10,000 people returned so far, Zelensky acknowledged that a significant number of Ukrainians remain in Russian captivity. “We remember everyone who still remains in captivity,” he said, without specifying an exact figure. Ukraine’s government continues working with allies to secure additional prisoner exchanges as the war drags into its fifth year. “It is important that Ukraine is not alone in this effort,” Zelensky said, adding that “our friends around the world are helping us with mediation.” The anniversary served as a reminder of the stakes involved in ongoing diplomatic negotiations, which have intensified in recent weeks following his meetings with President Donald Trump and other Western leaders. Patriot interceptors remain a priority Zelensky met with Trump in the Oval Office at the White House on Tuesday, July 28, where the two leaders discussed further details of the Patriot licensing arrangement and explored ways to accelerate diplomatic and strategic efforts aimed at ending Russia’s war. Their long-awaited meeting came after the two leaders met on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey on July 7-8, where Trump first signaled Washington would grant Ukraine a license to produce its own Patriot air-defense systems. Ukraine has repeatedly identified Patriot interceptors as one of its most urgent battlefield needs, urging allies to speed up deliveries since the system remains the only proven defense against Russian ballistic missile strikes. Meanwhile, the Kremlin continues to violate international humanitarian law by striking Ukrainian residential neighborhoods and civilian infrastructure with ballistic missiles, guided aerial bombs (KABs), artillery and drones, while also forcibly enlisting its own men as it prepares for a new wave of mobilization. “We will not forget a single crime against our people,” Zelensky said, expressing “eternal gratitude to everyone helping to free our people and protect lives.” In its latest effort to bring troops home, Ukraine carried out a new prisoner exchange with Russia on June 26, with each side returning 160 POWs. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.