Thousands of Ukrainians gathered at Kyiv’s Independence Square to commemorate the second anniversary of an explosion in Olenivka prison barracks that killed more than 50 Ukrainian soldiers held by Russia. The ceremony was marked by impassioned speeches calling on the government to do more to secure the release of prisoners of war. Many survivors of the explosion, like Sgt. Kyrylo Masalitin, recounted the helplessness they felt during the attack and expressed solidarity with their comrades still in captivity. The Azov brigade, to which many of the soldiers belonged, honored their fallen colleagues with a solemn prayer and red flares.
Russia has claimed that the Olenivka explosion was caused by a missile fired by Ukrainian forces, but investigations by The Associated Press and the United Nations have suggested that Russian forces may have been responsible for the attack. The AP interviewed numerous individuals with direct knowledge of the incident, all of whom pointed to Russia as the culprit. Despite this evidence, the U.N. refrained from publicly accusing Russia of planning and executing the attack. Two years after the explosion, many Ukrainians continue to seek answers about what really happened that day.
The commemoration event also served as a platform for advocacy for the release of Ukrainian soldiers still held captive by Russia. Many protesters demanded a prisoner exchange to secure the freedom of at least 900 soldiers from the Azov brigade who are imprisoned by Russia. The “Free Azov” campaign has been vocal in pressuring President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government to negotiate the release of Ukrainian prisoners of war. One soldier, identified as Stanislav, shared his personal experience of being captured by Russian forces after defending Mariupol and losing his arm in an artillery attack. Despite his own injuries, Stanislav is determined to continue advocating for the release of his fellow soldiers.
Families of soldiers who were killed in the Olenivka explosion or are currently imprisoned by Russia also participated in the event, seeking justice and closure. Halyna Stafiichuk, a mother whose son is held captive by the Russians, expressed her daily anguish and longing to hear from her son. Many families are relying on faith and hope that their loved ones will return home safely. The emotional testimonies and pleas for the government to prioritize the release of prisoners of war underscored the deep impact of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The collective grief and resilience of the Ukrainian people were palpable at the commemoration ceremony in Kyiv.
