Today, July 28, the Permanent Representation of Ukraine to the Council of Europe held a commemorative event on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance of the Defenders of Ukraine, members of volunteer formations, and civilians who were executed, tortured, or died in captivity.

Special attention during the event was paid to the fourth anniversary of the war crime in Olenivka. On the night of July 28–29, 2022, as a result of a pre-planned mass murder in a barracks at the colony in the temporarily occupied territory of Donetsk region, 53 Ukrainian prisoners of war—servicemen of the "Azov" Brigade—were killed, and over 130 were wounded.

Olenivka was not an accident or an isolated incident. It is part of Russia's systemic policy toward Ukrainian prisoners of war, which includes torture, beatings, deprivation of food and medical care, inhumane conditions of detention, illegal show trials, and executions. According to available data, 406 Ukrainians have died in Russian captivity, and human rights defenders have documented at least 695 different forms of torture. 96% of released Ukrainian prisoners of war reported being subjected to torture. More than 600 "Azov" servicemen still remain in Russian captivity, where they are among the primary targets of particularly severe persecution.

Russia not only committed this crime but also attempted to cover up the truth from the very beginning, pushing a false narrative about an alleged HIMARS strike and obstructing an independent international investigation. Meanwhile, Ukrainian and international experts refuted Russian claims, and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights confirmed that the explosion in Olenivka was not caused by a HIMARS missile.

Participants of the event honored the memory of all Ukrainians tortured and killed in Russian captivity and emphasized that those who survived Olenivka must be brought home, and everyone involved in organizing and executing this mass murder must be held accountable. The international community must increase pressure on Russia, demand unhindered access to Ukrainian prisoners of war, facilitate their prompt release, and ensure a full and impartial investigation into all crimes.

Olenivka is not forgotten. We remember everyone. We bring the living home. We seek justice for the fallen.