Ukrainian Women’s Battalion supports the initiative to establish the Day of Remembrance of Executed Prisoners of War

During the night of 28-29 July 2022, on the territory of the former colony in the village of Olenivka, russians carried out a mass execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war – defenders of Azovstal and Mariupol. Approximately 50 prisoners of war were killed and about 130 were injured.

In January 2023, women whose loved ones were in that Olenivka barracks founded The Olenivka Community NGO. Representatives of the Community are trying to do everything possible to protect prisoners of war and honour the memory of those killed by the russians in captivity. Thus, in July 2023, a representative of the community, Mariia Alekseievych, created a petition to establish at the state level days of mourning and commemoration for the defenders executed as a result of the terrorist attack in colony no.120 in Olenivka. The petition received the required number of votes back in September 2023, but there has been no response so far…

At the same time, the Organisation, in cooperation with members of parliament, drafted a resolution proposing to “consider 28 July as a day of mourning and commemoration of the defenders of Ukraine, members of volunteer groups and civilians who were executed, tortured or killed in captivity”. Draft Resolution no.10188 was registered by the Verkhovna Rada on 24 October 2023. However, unfortunately, not all those responsible for consideration and decision-making understood the importance of establishing such a day. That is why the Olenivka Community continues its struggle, trying to enlist the support of influential politicians and members of parliament, and to give this issue as much media coverage as possible.

The Ukrainian Women’s Battalion supports the establishment of the Day of Remembrance of Executed Prisoners and emphasizes its significance. Because such days are an opportunity not only to remind ourselves and the world about the crimes of the russians, to pay tribute to those who died by their hands, but also to form the national consciousness of Ukrainians. The Day of Remembrance of Executed Prisoners of War must exist, because only in this way we can preserve their memory!