It is noted that, as a neutral intermediary, the ICRC facilitated the safe exit of combatants from the Azovstal plant in coordination with the parties to the conflict.
“We did not guarantee the safety of prisoners of war who fell into the hands of the enemy, because it is not in our power. We made this clear to the parties in advance,” the message says.
The Committee added that the parties to the conflict are obliged to ensure the protection of prisoners of war from acts of violence, intimidation and public interest, as well as from the consequences of hostilities.
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“Only the parties to the conflict can finally ensure the safety of prisoners of war,” the ICRC said.
The organization also noted that although they managed to visit some prisoners of war held by the parties, they repeatedly stated that they still did not have access to all prisoners of war, including those held in Olenovka.
“The ICRC must be allowed to visit and revisit prisoners of war, in particular those to whom it has not yet been given access, and in order to fulfill its humanitarian mandate,” it said.
The murder of the captured defenders of “Azovstal” – details
As UNIAN reported earlier, on the night of July 29, an explosion occurred on the territory of the former penal colony in Olenivka in the temporarily occupied territory of the Donetsk region. As a result, the building was destroyed, which contained Ukrainian prisoners of war, withdrawn from the Azovstal plant.
Immediately after the explosion, Russia accused the Armed Forces of Ukraine of shelling the penal colony. According to the Russian side, more than 50 Ukrainian defenders died, the number of wounded is unknown.
Ukrainian law enforcement agencies said that the explosion in Olenivka was a Russian terrorist act, with the aim of hiding war crimes, discrediting the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and disrupting the supply of weapons. They demand that the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross immediately respond to the terrorist attack and send an inspection mission to the territory of the colony.
According to Ukrainian intelligence, the attack was carried out by mercenaries from the PMC “Wagner” (League) on the personal instructions of the nominal owner of the specified PMC – Yevgeny Prigozhin.
In connection with the terrorist attack in Olenivka, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky noted the need for a clear legal recognition of Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism.
On August 3, UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced the launch of a fact-finding mission regarding the killing of Ukrainian prisoners of war in Olenivka.
