The SSU has collected evidence against the former head of the occupation ‘Volnovakha correctional colony’ (better known as Olenivka prison). The person in question is involved in massive abuse of Ukrainian prisoners of war in the russian-operated prison.

As the investigation established, from the start of russia’s full-scale invasion and until the end of July 2022 this man organized torture of over 100 captured Ukrainian defenders.

For torture, the victims were taken to a specially set up ‘disciplinary isolator’ on the territory of the colony.

There, the prisoners of war were subjected to various types of physical violence and psychological pressure accompanied by constant threats of a slow murder.

To escort people to the torture chamber, the ‘warden’ involved his subordinate, a ‘junior inspector of the supervision unit’, who also took part in abusing Ukrainian soldiers.

According to the investigation, the ex-head of the jail is a local resident who until 2014 headed the search unit in Horlivka district department of the disbanded police force in Donetsk region.

When this part of the oblast was captured, he stayed and cooperated with russia’s local occupation administration.

In early 2022, the offender became head of the aggressor-established Olenivka prison and held this ‘position’ until the end of July.

The ‘junior inspector’ before his ‘appointment’ was a member of the so-called ‘penitentiary service’ of the terrorist organization ‘DNR’ in the temporarily occupied Horlivka.

Based on the evidence, SSU investigators notified both prison ‘officials’ of suspicion under Articles 28.2, 438.1 of the CCU (cruel treatment of PoWs, committed by a group).

As the suspects are hiding from prosecution in the temporarily occupied part of eastern Ukraine, comprehensive efforts are underway to bring them to justice.

The investigation was carried out jointly with the National Police under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor General’s Office.