UN releases new report on Olenivka attack, rules out possibility of HIMARS missile attack

The UN press service published the report.

"The degree of damages to the walls, ceiling, roof and windows of the barracks, the condition of the bunk beds inside, the size of the residual crater, and the impact radius are not characteristic of impacts by HIMARS ammunition," the report said.

The organisation noted that "in the event of any death or serious injury of a POW in their captivity, a Detaining Power has an obligation to carry out an immediate official investigation."

"The Office has not received information that the Russian Federation has carried out these obligations of investigation and prosecution," the document says. 

The Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, responded to the report.

"Unfortunately, even in such a serious report, the UN cannot put 2+2 together and understand that only the Russian Federation is to blame for the tragedy. I hope that in the next report, they will have the courage to write about it directly," the Ombudsman commented.

The UN has also recognised the authenticity of videos released on March 6 and April 11, 2023. They show Russian soldiers killing two Ukrainian servicemen.

In one of the videos, Russians shot and killed a prisoner of war, Oleksandr Matsiievskyi, after he exclaimed "Glory to Ukraine."

"OHCHR has reasonable grounds to believe that both videos, which were likely recorded before the reporting period, are authentic," the UN report says.

It will be recalled that on the night of July 28-29, 2022, Russians shelled the penal colony No. 120 in the temporarily occupied Olenivka, Donetsk region. Ukrainian prisoners of war were held in the building, in particular, those who were at the Azovstal plant.