“Everything was covered with beds, bodies, parts of bodies, limbs, and fire everywhere.”
— this is the testimony of Oleksandr Verengotov, an Azov fighter who survived the Olenivka terrorist attack and russian captivity.
1/8
— this is the testimony of Oleksandr Verengotov, an Azov fighter who survived the Olenivka terrorist attack and russian captivity.
1/8
“I was already asleep when I heard the explosion. I opened my eyes — dust, noise. Then a second blast.”
And then:
“Everything started burning.”
“I woke up and my sleeping bag was already on fire.”
Smoke everywhere. Flames all around.
2/8
And then:
“Everything started burning.”
“I woke up and my sleeping bag was already on fire.”
Smoke everywhere. Flames all around.
2/8
“At first, I didn’t even understand this wasn’t just shelling.”
“Everything was on fire. Beds twisted, the ceiling burning, people screaming.”
He climbed down from the upper bunk straight into chaos.
“Bodies, metal, debris — everything was mixed together.”
3/8
“Everything was on fire. Beds twisted, the ceiling burning, people screaming.”
He climbed down from the upper bunk straight into chaos.
“Bodies, metal, debris — everything was mixed together.”
3/8
“I saw a guy without a leg. I couldn’t help him.”
The exit was completely blocked.
“Everything was covered with beds and bodies.”
Outside — wounded prisoners, no real help, total collapse.
“The administration disappeared right after the explosions.”
4/8
The exit was completely blocked.
“Everything was covered with beds and bodies.”
Outside — wounded prisoners, no real help, total collapse.
“The administration disappeared right after the explosions.”
4/8
Survivors tried to tear the fence apart with their bare hands.
Evacuation came late and in chaos.
People were thrown into trucks in unbearable conditions. Some didn’t survive the journey to the hospital.
5/8
Evacuation came late and in chaos.
People were thrown into trucks in unbearable conditions. Some didn’t survive the journey to the hospital.
5/8
Then came captivity.
Taganrog, Kamyshin. Prisons, interrogations, torture rooms.
“Every single day — beatings, electric shocks, abuse.”
“We were forced to learn the russian anthem, songs, biographies. One mistake — the whole cell gets punished.”
6/8
Taganrog, Kamyshin. Prisons, interrogations, torture rooms.
“Every single day — beatings, electric shocks, abuse.”
“We were forced to learn the russian anthem, songs, biographies. One mistake — the whole cell gets punished.”
6/8
And then — the exchange.
Planes, buses, the border. Blindfolds, tied hands, uncertainty until the last moment.
“I didn’t believe it was real.”
Then the Ukrainian flag appeared.
“When I saw it, I started crying.”
7/8
Planes, buses, the border. Blindfolds, tied hands, uncertainty until the last moment.
“I didn’t believe it was real.”
Then the Ukrainian flag appeared.
“When I saw it, I started crying.”
7/8
Olenivka was a horrific war crime.
But it wasn’t the only one.
Thousands of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians are still in russian captivity — many enduring torture, abuse, and worse right now.
This isn’t history. It’s happening.
Don’t stay silent.
russian captivity kills.
8/8
But it wasn’t the only one.
Thousands of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians are still in russian captivity — many enduring torture, abuse, and worse right now.
This isn’t history. It’s happening.
Don’t stay silent.
russian captivity kills.
8/8
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
