Ukrainians called on their government to do more to make Russia to release the prisoners of war after they expressed their anger yesterday at a ceremony dedicated to the second anniversary of the explosion that killed more than 50 people, BTA reported, citing the Associated Press.
Several thousand soldiers and civilians gathered yesterday in Independence Square. in Kyiv to mark the second anniversary of the explosion that killed more than 50 Ukrainians held by Russia in prison facilities in Olenivka.
Irdent speakers at the ceremony called on the Ukrainian government to work harder to free the soldiers in a prisoner-of-war exchange. According to many soldiers, the explosion in Olenivka is one of the most painful pages in the history of the war.
„I was there, in Olenivka. I was shaken by the explosion,” said Sergeant Kirilo Masalitin, who was later released. “I have never felt so helpless before. And those still in captivity feel this helplessness every day. They should know that we have done everything possible to get them released”.
More than 300 soldiers from the “Azov” brigade were stationed behind Masalitin. In unison, they recited a prayer, then raised red torches to honor their comrades.
Russia claims the explosion in Olenivka was caused by a missile fired by Ukrainian forces that hit the prison facility. However, according to an Associated Press investigation, growing evidence points to Russian forces being responsible for the explosion.
The AP interviewed more than a dozen people with direct knowledge of the attack, including survivors, investigators and families of the dead and missing. They all describe evidence that they say points directly to Russia as the perpetrator. The AP also obtained an internal UN analysis that found the same. Despite the conclusion of the internal analysis that Russia planned and carried out the attack, in its public statements the UN did not want to blame Russia directly.
Two years after the explosion, many Ukrainians still want to know what exactly happened. Yesterday's demonstration brought together both the people who came to honor the memory of those who died in Olenivka, and those protesting against Russia's imprisonment of the Ukrainian fighters who defended the “Azovstal” steel plant. and were captured when Russia captured the city of Mariupol.
Many are also demanding the release of the Ukrainian soldiers who were protecting the “Azovstal” steel plant. and were captured when Mariupol fell in 2022. At least 900 soldiers from the “Azov“ were held as prisoners of war by Russia. The campaign "Free Azov" has become a powerful pressure group in Kiev, holding weekly vigils to call on the government of President Volodymyr Zelensky to carry out a prisoner swap that would free Ukrainian prisoners of war held by Russia.
„We are here to remember the dead and also those who are in captivity. We are here to demand that our government work hard on this matter,” said a soldier who identified himself as Stanislav.
He said he was a defender of Mariupol when the Russians invaded in February 2022 and was wounded in an artillery attack, losing his left arm. He was treated at the military base at the Azovstal steel plant before being captured by Russian forces and then released. After rehabilitation, Stanislav returned to the army and now works at the military headquarters in Kiev.
He said he would continue to press for the release of the captured soldiers.
„We are here for a very important reason, to make sure that our captive brothers in arms return,” he said. "All those who are in captivity," added Stanislav. The event in central Kyiv brought together many families, including mothers, wives and children of soldiers who were killed in Olenivka or are currently in Russian prisons.
With a voice trembling with emotion, seventy-one-year-old Galina Stafiychuk said that her son was detained by the Russians and she had not heard from him for more than two years. “I cry every day. I'm just asking for a note from him saying that he's fine and that he'll be home soon,” says Stafiychuk. “We hope that God and our government will bring back all our soldiers,”, she added.