On Sunday, Ukrainians called on their government to intensify efforts to secure the release of prisoners of war, expressing their frustration during a ceremony marking the second anniversary of a deadly explosion that claimed over 50 lives.
At Kyiv’s Independence Square, several thousand soldiers and civilians gathered to remember the tragedy at the Olenivka prison barracks, where Russian forces held Ukrainian prisoners. The ceremony included fervent appeals for increased government action to facilitate a prisoner exchange.
The Olenivka explosion is widely considered one of the war’s most harrowing incidents. Sgt. Kyrylo Masalitin, who was at the scene and later released, recounted the traumatic experience. “I was there in Olenivka, and the explosion shook me deeply,” Masalitin said. “The sense of helplessness was overwhelming, and those still imprisoned endure that every day. We must ensure that we’ve done everything possible to secure their release.”
Behind Masalitin, over 300 soldiers from the Azov brigade stood in formation. They recited a prayer and held red flares aloft in tribute to their fallen comrades.
Russia has asserted that Ukrainian forces caused the Olenivka explosion by firing a missile at the prison. However, increasing evidence suggests that Russian forces might have orchestrated the attack, according to an investigation by The Associated Press. The AP’s interviews with survivors, investigators, and families, along with an internal U.N. analysis, point to Russia’s responsibility. Despite this, the U.N. has refrained from publicly attributing the attack to Russia.
Two years later, many Ukrainians remain eager for clarity about the explosion. The demonstration not only honored those lost at Olenivka but also highlighted ongoing calls for the release of Ukrainian soldiers captured during the fall of Mariupol in 2022, including at least 900 from the Azov brigade. The “Free Azov” campaign, a prominent pressure group in Kyiv, holds weekly vigils urging President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s administration to negotiate a prisoner exchange.
Stanislav, a soldier who defended Mariupol and was injured before being captured and later released, emphasized the importance of these efforts. “We’re here to remember our fallen and to push for the return of those in captivity,” he said. “We must keep fighting for the release of all our brothers-in-arms.”
The event also saw the participation of many families, including those of soldiers killed at Olenivka or currently held by Russia. Halyna Stafiichuk, 71, tearfully shared her anguish over her son’s continued captivity. “I cry every day, praying for a sign that he’s safe and will come home soon,” she said. “We rely on God and our government to bring our soldiers back.”