KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainians have called on their government to Russia Calls for the release of the prisoners expressed their anger at a ceremony marking the second anniversary of the release of the prisoners of war on Sunday. Explosion kills more than 50 people.
Thousands of soldiers and civilians gathered in Kiev’s Independence Square on Sunday to mark the second anniversary of the explosion that killed more than 50 Ukrainians held by Russia in the barracks of Olenivka prison.
Impassioned speakers at the ceremony called on the Ukrainian government to make greater efforts to free the soldiers in a prisoner swap.
According to many soldiers, the Olenivka explosion was one of the most tragic events of the war.
“I was in Olenivka. The explosion shook us,” said Sergeant Kirillo Masarytin, who was later released. “I have never felt so helpless. Those who are still being held feel that helplessness every day. They need to know that we did everything we could to free them.”
Behind Masarytin, more than 300 soldiers from the Azov Brigade stood in formation, reciting prayers in unison and then holding aloft red flares to honour their comrades.
Russia has said the Olenivka explosion was caused by Ukrainian forces firing a missile at the prison compound, but an Associated Press investigation has found growing evidence that suggests the blast was caused by Russian forces.
The AP interviewed more than a dozen people with direct knowledge of the details of the attack, including survivors, investigators and family members of those killed and missing. All described evidence that they believed directly pointed to Russia as the perpetrator. The AP also obtained an internal United Nations analysis that reached the same conclusion. Although the internal analysis concluded that Russia planned and carried out the attack, the UN refrained from blaming Russia in public statements.
Two years after the explosion, many Ukrainians still want to know exactly how it happened. Demonstrations on Sunday brought together people commemorating the Olenivka massacre and protesting Russia’s imprisonment of Ukrainian fighters who defended the Azovstal steelworks and were captured during Russia’s occupation of the city of Mariupol.
Many also called for the release of Ukrainian soldiers defending the Avokhstal steelworks, who were captured when Mariupol fell in 2022. Russia is holding at least 900 Azov Brigade soldiers prisoner. The “Free Azov” movement has become a vocal pressure group in Kiev, holding weekly rallies to urge President Volodymyr Zelensky’s government to agree to a prisoner exchange and release Ukrainian prisoners being held by Russia.
“We are here to remember those who died and those who were taken prisoner. We are here to urge the government to work hard on this case,” said a soldier who gave his name as Stanislav.
Stanislav said he was defending Mariupol during the Russian invasion in February 2022 when he was wounded in artillery fire and lost his left arm. He was treated at a military base in the Azovstal Steelworks before being captured by Russian forces and later released. After physical rehabilitation, Stanislav rejoined the army and now works at the military headquarters in Kiev.
He said he would continue to work to secure the release of the captured soldiers.
“We are here for a special reason, to see our captive comrades come back,” he said. “All of them captives.”
The event in central Kiev brought together many family members, including mothers, wives and children, of soldiers killed at Olenivka and those currently imprisoned in Russia.
Halina Stafiychuk, 71, spoke with emotion as she said her son was being held by the Russians and she had not heard from him for more than two years.
“I cry every day and pray that we will receive a letter from him saying he is OK and will be coming home soon,” Stafichuk said. “We trust that God and the government will bring all our soldiers back.”
