Olenivka prison chief killed in car explosion in Donetsk
Illustrative photo: Car of the head of DPR Olenivka colony exploded in Donetsk (Getty Images)
On a Monday morning, December 9, an explosion occurred in the center of the temporarily occupied Donetsk. A car with passengers inside exploded, the Russian Telegram channel Mash reports.
According to Russian media, an SUV on Universitetska Street exploded, with two people inside.
Russians claim that the vehicle belonged to the head of the Olenivka prison in the so-called Donetsk People's Republic (Donetsk People's Republic - ed.), Serhii Yevsiukov. He died in the explosion.
His wife was also injured — she lost a leg and is in critical condition in the hospital.
The Russians state that plastic explosives, equivalent to about 100 grams of TNT, were placed under the chassis of Yevsyukov’s Toyota Land Cruiser.
Who was Serhii Yevsiukov?
Serhii Yevsiukov was the former head of the prison in the settlement of Olenivka, located in the occupied territory of the Donetsk region controlled by the so-called DPR.
His activities drew international attention following the mass murder of Ukrainian prisoners of war in the Olenivka prison on July 29, 2022. At least 50 prisoners were killed, and around 150 were injured in an explosion.
The Ukrainian side accuses Yevsiukov and his deputy, Dmytro Neyolov, of cruel treatment of prisoners, including denying them medical assistance after the explosion. Both officials are also accused of violating international humanitarian law under charges of cruel treatment and willful killing of prisoners of war. The SSU (Security Service of Ukraine) has issued formal suspicions against them for these crimes.
Olenivka terrorist attack
In the summer of 2022, Russians orchestrated an explosion in the Olenivka prison, where Ukrainian prisoners of war, including defenders of Azovstal, were held.
According to Russian claims, more than 50 Ukrainian soldiers died in the explosion.
Intelligence reports suggest that the Russian side did not initially plan to immediately kill the prisoners but later decided on executions to hide evidence of torture and inhumane detention conditions.
In July 2023, Ukraine managed to recover the bodies of the fallen defenders. According to Dmytro Lubinets, the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, most of the bodies have already been identified.
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine conducted a detailed investigation into the Olenivka attack two years after the tragedy.
