Russia’s Tu-22M3 strategic bomber at the Olenya airfield confirmed as hit, according to Ukraine’s defense intelligence. Satellite images show the aftermath of a Ukrainian strike on the Saky airfield in Crimea. Ukraine’s Security Service charges former Russian-installed prison authorities in case of killing of Ukrainian war prisoners in Olenivka.
Russia’s Tu-22M3 strategic bomber at Olenya airfield confirmed as hit, according to Ukraine’s defense intelligence
Ukraine’s defense intelligence confirmed that a Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber was hit at the Olenya military airfield in Russia’s Murmansk region.
“That’s a truly Olympic achievement of Ukraine’s defense forces, special operation forces, and defense intelligence. We do not comment on [the weapons used in the strike and where they hit], but the Commander-in-Chief praised the long-range capabilities. It is not difficult to guess the direction in question. As to the fact of the strike, we confirm that there was an incident and that something hit the target,” Andriy Yusov, a representative of the Main Intelligence Department of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said on national television on Monday.
The Tu-22M3 is seen as an important strategic target, Yusov said, as Russia does not have the capacity to manufacture this type of aircraft. The bomber has been used by Russian forces to attack civilian and energy infrastructure in Ukraine with cruise missiles.
Over the weekend, the Ukrainian military claimed a number of achievements, Yusov said.
“Major cyberattacks hit the financial sector in Russia. Incidents continue at Russian oil refineries and other sites that are part of the war against Ukrainians. The news about Olenya is special, it put the cherry on top for the Ukrainians this past weekend,” he added.
On July 27, a Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber crashed near Volgograd. On the same day, Ukrainian drones attacked three Russian military airfields. One of the strikes reportedly damaged a Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber at the Olenya military airfield in northern Russia.
Satellite images show aftermath of Ukrainian strike on Saky airfield in Crimea
Satellite images shared by RFE/RL’s Skhemy (Schemes) project on Monday show the aftermath of a Ukrainian missile strike on the Saky airfield near the town of Novofedorivka in occupied Crimea.
The images of the airfield dated July 28 capture dark spots in an area where Su-30 jets were previously parked. The changes could have originated from a fire or explosions.
Yet, the image resolution is not enough to assess the consequences of the attack.
On July 26, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said Ukrainian troops struck the Saky airfield. Russian authorities did not comment on the incident.
Ukraine’s Security Service charges former Russian-installed prison authorities in case of killing of Ukrainian war prisoners in Olenivka
Ukraine’s Security Service said on Monday it had charged in absentia the former head of the Olenivka penal colony and his deputy in the case of killing of Ukrainian war prisoners held at the facility in a Russian terror attack in July 2022.
The two people charged are former Russia-installed prison authorities — Serhiy Yevsyukov, former head of the Volnovakha colony in the town of Olenivka and Dmytro Neyolov, first deputy head of the facility.
They were in office when the terror act happened. At least 50 Ukrainian war prisoners were killed, nine of them died because they did not receive needed treatment. Around 150 people were injured.
According to the investigation, Yevsyukov and Neyolov deliberately delayed evacuation of the wounded. They were charged with ill-treatment of prisoners of war and face a life in prison.
The Office of the Prosecutor General released what it said were the first results of an investigation into the mass killing of Ukrainian war prisoners in Olenivka. The explosions went off between 11 p.m. local time on July 28 and 1 a.m. on July 29, 2022.
There were 193 Azov service members in the barracks at the time of the explosion.
The investigators and prosecutors have collected testimony from 20 victims and more than 30 eyewitnesses. A total of 48 forensic medical examinations were conducted.
The Office of the Prosecutor General said it had identified the remains of 49 Ukrainian prisoners of war, most of whom — 48, through forensic molecular-genetic tests, and one based on accounts of survivors and eyewitnesses.
On July 29, 2022, Russia staged an attack on a penal colony in Olenivka, in Russian-held part of Donetsk region where Ukrainian war prisoners were held in order to hide incidents of torture and killings of the prisoners.
A total of 193 Ukrainian service members of the Mariupol garrison, including of the Azov regiment, were held in prison.
Russia claimed that Ukrainian government HIMARS targeted the men.
The Prosecutor General of Ukraine, Andriy Kostin said that most international experts agree that the explosion in the barracks was caused by thermobaric weapons. More than 50 people were killed and at least 140 others wounded. No exact numbers are available. Russia gave no access to international observers to the site.
What is happening with Ukrainian culture today? Ukraine in Flames #643
During the war, Ukrainians were repeatedly reminded that culture is not only about creating meaning in peaceful circumstances but also about constantly engaging with what is happening here and now. In times of war, with all its terrible manifestations, culture does not distance itself from difficult topics but continues to be the nerve of society. Watch Ukraine in Flames #643 to find out about what is happening with Ukrainian culture today, its mission, and how it operates and reacts to wartime challenges.
Guests:
- Volodymyr Yermolenko, Ukrainian philosopher, writer and president at PEN Ukraine
- Andriy Bondar, Ukrainian poet, publicist and translator
- Matviy Vaisberg, Ukrainian painter, graphic artist and book designer