Ukraine urges UN, Red Cross to investigate Donetsk prison attack

Ukraine says the United Nations (UN) and the Red Cross should be allowed to investigate the shooting deaths of more than 50 Ukrainian soldiers in Russian-occupied territory. 

The Red Cross said the organization is trying to gain access to the prison and participate in the evacuation and treatment of wounded soldiers.

The case refers to what happened in occupied Donetsk on July 29 – the attack on Olenivka prison killed at least 53 prisoners. Ukraine and Russia blame each other for the incident.

An unverified Russian video released after the attack shows collapsed beds and burned bodies. 

It is still unclear what exactly happened at the Olenivka camp, which is located in a territory controlled by the Russian-backed separatist regime. 

Moreover, the Ukrainian side claims that this place was the site of torture and murder of Ukrainian prisoners by the Russians in order to destroy evidence. 

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, called the incident a “deliberate war crime” committed by the Russians. 

Russia claims that the camp was hit by Ukrainian precision-guided missiles. 

According to reports, among the Ukrainian prisoners of war in the Donetsk prison were representatives of the Azov battalion, who fought in the besieged Azovstal factory in Mariupol.