Ukraine Calls For Probe Of POW Deaths As City of Donetsk Evacuated

A missile strike on Russian-occupied Olenivka in eastern Donetsk on Friday reportedly killed at least 50 Ukrainian prisoners of war, with Russia and Ukraine both rushing to accuse each other of sending the missiles to destroy the area.

The military strike on Friday appeared to have killed over 50 people, all of whom were believed to be prisoners of war–including the members of the Azov battalion, who have been accused by Russia of being Nazis, according to the BBC.

Ukraine claims that Russian forces had attacked the area to destroy any evidence of torture and murder perpetrated in the region; Russia, on the other hand, claims to have evidence that it had been attacked with Himars artillery, and that Ukraine attacked the area as a “provocation,” Euronews reported.

On that end, both Russia and Ukraine have invited members of the United Nations and Red Cross to analyze and investigate the incident, with both parties claiming that their side would be vindicated should a proper investigation of the scene occur, CNBC News reported.

The Red Cross has offered to send members of its team to the area in order to evacuate the wounded people, with 78 injured individuals documented. The United Nations offered to send people to investigate the incident once they have both parties’ approval on the matter.

“Our priority right now is making sure that the wounded receive life-saving treatment and that the bodies of those who lost their lives are dealt with in a dignified manner,” the Red Cross said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has ordered the evacuation of many in the eastern region of Donetsk out of fears of more civilian deaths as the fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces transitions into the area.

“Many refuse to leave but it still needs to be done,” Zelenskyy said. “The more people leave the Donetsk region now, the fewer people the Russian army will have time to kill.”