russia strikes the detention centre in Donetsk Oblast, where Azov prisoners-of-war are held

What happened? The armed forces of russia carried out targeted and deliberate artillery shelling of the penitentiary establishment in Olenivka on the occupied territory of Donetsk Oblast. Azovstal defenders and other Ukrainian military personnel were in that pre-trial detention centre.

Source. The General Staff of the Armed Forces.

Details. The russians inform that 40 people were killed and another 140 were injured as a result of the shelling.

The russian Ministry of Defence claims that Ukrainian troops allegedly hit the pre-trial detention centre with HIMARS missiles.

According to the commander of the Missile Troops and Artillery of the Ground Forces Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Ukrainian forces did not launch missile and artillery strikes on the area of ​​Olenivka settlement.

Comments. The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces explains: “The occupiers pursued their criminal goals – to accuse Ukraine of committing “war crimes”, as well as to cover up the tortures of prisoners and executions, which were carried out there on orders of the occupation administration and the command of the Armed Forces of the russian federation in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk Oblast.”

The soldiers of the regiment were transferred to a separate building.

“We know that some of the captured defenders were transferred to the barrack, on which the attack was made, a few days before the crime. A classic, cynical and very well thought out false flag operation,” responds Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to the head of the President's Office.

The founder of the Azov regiment, Andriy Biletsky, states: “Tonight, the russians killed some of the captured Azov defenders.”

“The russian command framed the mass killing of prisoners as the actions of the Ukrainian army,” he notes.

“It is already obvious that this was a pre-planned act of the country for which the concept of officer's honour, and even more so – compliance with the Geneva Conventions, rules, laws and customs of war, are unknown,” says Biletsky.

He states that russia failed to defeat the Azov Regiment in a fair fight, so now it is trying to destroy it with treachery.

“On behalf of the Azov units, I announce a “hunt” for everyone involved in this mass murder. Every rank and file performer and every organiser, regardless of position and place of stay, will bear responsibility. No matter where you hide, you will be found and exterminated,” says Biletsky.