- July 28, 2025
- 7:14 pm
- World News
The tragedy in Olenivka is not only a part of Putin’s aggression, but also a reminder: Russia acts like Hamas, deliberately killing prisoners and hiding behind lies. Just like with the Israeli hostages, the truth about war crimes must be heard and brought to justice.
On the night of July 29, 2022, more than 50 Ukrainian prisoners were killed in a prison near Olenivka. A new international report directly states for the first time: Russia was behind this terrorist attack, as confirmed by the UN’s internal analysis.
UN Internal Analysis: The Olenivka Massacre Was a Carefully Planned Russian Terrorist Attack
The CHRAC report names the perpetrators of one of the most horrific crimes by Putin’s army
On the night of July 28–29, 2022, at Volnovakha Correctional Colony No. 120 near Olenivka (in the temporarily occupied Donetsk region of Ukraine), Russian forces carried out a terrorist attack. The victims were over 50 Ukrainian prisoners of war, and around 130 were injured. Most of the deceased were fighters from the Azov Regiment. The next day, Russia accused Ukraine, claiming the strike was carried out by a HIMARS missile.
But almost three years later, in late June 2025, the Center for Human Rights in Armed Conflict (CHRAC) published a report that clarifies everything.
“The UN’s internal analysis revealed that the Russian Federation planned and carried out the attack,” the report states.
“Russia planned the terror attack on Azovstal POWs in Olenivka”: CHRAC report confirms UN internal analysis — NAnews Israel News, July 1, 2025
What Evidence Was Presented
The “Barracks 200” report is based on:
- Testimonies from surviving Ukrainian prisoners,
- Satellite imagery,
- Projectile trajectory analysis,
- Ballistic examination,
- Debris analysis,
- And the UN’s standard of “reasonable grounds to believe.”
Key Findings:
- Used thermobaric 3OF74 munitions, fired from 2A51/60/80 systems at a range of 2–8 km.
- Strike direction — from the southeast, from Russian-controlled territory.
- No HIMARS fragments were found. The presented debris was planted.
- Four explosions occurred, two of them inside Barracks 200.
“The fragments shown to journalists as HIMARS debris had nothing to do with the attack. Witnesses did not see them at the scene. Real traces point to barrel artillery.”
Why the UN Fell Silent
After the tragedy, the UN created a fact-finding mission (FFMO), but it was disbanded after just 5 months. The official reason was “lack of security guarantees.” However, as noted by Ukrainian ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, this was merely a pretext.
“I tried multiple times to meet with UN mission members to share Ukraine’s evidence. The mission never agreed to review it.”
“Only a year later, the UN debunked Russia’s lies, stating the Olenivka attack was not caused by a HIMARS strike.”
Still, the UN never publicly condemned Russia. That responsibility fell to independent human rights defenders from CHRAC.
Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| July 27, 2022 | Azov prisoners transferred to new barracks |
| July 28, ~11:00 PM | Under Grad fire cover, 4 explosions occurred, 2 inside the barracks |
| July 29 | HIMARS debris planted, Russia’s media campaign began |
| January 5, 2023 | UN officially disbanded FFMO mission |
Which Russian Forces Were Involved
The report names three main Russian military units:
- 61st and 155th Naval Infantry Brigades
- 11th Guards Motor Rifle Regiment
Also involved:
- Russian FSIN (transferred prisoners),
- Investigative Committee (covered up evidence),
- Propagandists and war correspondents who reported the “HIMARS strike.”
Why Russia Orchestrated the Attack
“This was a false-flag operation to blame Ukraine for mass murder and disrupt Western arms deliveries.”
Simultaneous thermobaric strikes were meant to mimic a missile attack and complicate the investigation.
Ukraine’s Response
The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office classified the attack as a war crime and deliberate killing. At least two prison officials were named suspects.
“We have sufficient evidence to confirm thermobaric weapons were used. The investigation continues,” said Prosecutor Andriy Tsyb.
Why It Matters to Israelis
For Israelis, especially those of Ukrainian origin, the Olenivka tragedy is more than just another act of Putin’s aggression — it’s a reminder that Russia acts like Hamas, deliberately targeting prisoners and hiding the truth. Just like with Israeli hostages, war crimes must be exposed and justice must be served.
NAnews — Israel News will continue reporting to preserve justice and the memory of the victims.
