Survivors of Olenivka explosion describe it as ‘thermobaric blast,’ label incident as Russian war crime
Survivors of the explosion that rocked the prisoner-of-war colony in Olenivka on July 29, 2022, have no doubts that it was a terrorist attack, former Ukrainian POW, Azov officer, and defender of Mariupol, Arsen Dmytryk (Lemko), said on Radio NV on April 11.
During interrogations after the explosion, the Russians claimed that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had struck Olenivka with HIMARS, recounted Dmytryk. If this were the case, those present in the barrack where the explosion occurred would have been “picked apart molecule by molecule,” he said.
As an eyewitness, Dmytryk confirmed the international experts’ version regarding the use of thermobaric weapons but also noted another explosion.
“The building is reinforced concrete, metal,” he said.
“For the fire to spread so quickly, it must have been a thermobaric blast. Or they could have launched Shmel rockets from the neighboring roof, or some kind of thermobaric device was used. There was also an impact — the guys saw and held the tails of the Krasnopol shells. These are their (Russia’s) 152 mm guided projectiles, like the American Excalibur.”
Read also: UN refutes Russia’s claim about 'HIMARS strike’ on POW camp in Olenivka
Both events occurred simultaneously, as even the arrival of several artillery shells could not have caused such a horrific fire, Dmytryk said.
“The injuries the guys have — they are shrapnel. These fragments — metal beds, concrete, and wood — are all secondary. For instance, I recently underwent extraction procedures for pieces of wood or plastic lodged in my body.”
Those who survived the explosion in Olenivka are actively seeking to draw maximum attention to the war crime, including at the international level, and are also endeavoring to identify individuals involved in it.
Olenivka attack
Ukraine’s General Staff reported on July 29, 2022 that the Russians had staged a strike at a POW camp in Olenivka, seeking to accuse Ukraine of committing war crimes, while also concealing evidence of torture and executions of prisoners.
The colony held 193 prisoners, including defenders of Mariupol, among them Azov fighters. At least 50 deaths and over 70 injuries have been confirmed.
Russian propaganda claimed that the POWs were allegedly killed by a HIMARS missile strike.
Read also: 19 Russians killed, including high-ranking officers in Ukrainian MLRS attack on Olenivka
Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin said that, according to international experts, thermobaric weapons were the cause of the explosion at the prison colony. Ukraine does not have access to such weapons.
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