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Ukrainian presidential office head demands ICRC visit Olenivka colony

"We are ready to join. Our MPs are ready to go there."

Ukrainian presidential office head demands ICRC visit Olenivka colony
Photo: Telegram/Andriy Yermak

Ukrainian presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak has demanded that the International Committee of the Red Cross send its mission to the colony in Olenivka in the occupied territory of Donetsk Region in the coming days.

Yermak pressed this demand during a video link with representatives of the ICRC and other international organisations.

The meeting was attended by deputy heads of the presidential office, Andriy Sybiha and Ihor Zhovkva, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Main Intelligence Directorate chief Kyrylo Budanov, the acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Vasyl Malyuk, representatives of the Prosecutor-General's Office, parliament commissioner for human rights Dmytro Lubinets, Centre for Civil Liberties NGO head Oleksandra Matviychuk, as well as MPs and ambassadors of Ukraine's partner states.

"I call on a Red Cross mission with representatives of international media to arrive in Ukraine no later than in three days, even if you do not receive confirmation from Russia by this time. And we are sure that Russia is not interested in the truth being known. We call for sending a mission that will be on the front line until Russia issues these permits," Yermak said.

He added that Ukraine would assist this mission in every possible way.

"We are ready to join it. Our MPs are ready to go there. Our esteemed partners - representatives of the countries that are with us today, I am sure, are also ready to help to ensure that the leading channels, other media arrive. As it happens, for example, when the IAEA mission arrives," Yermak added.

If the Red Cross fails to fulfill the task, Ukraine will use all possible information and diplomatic means.

Yermak noted that Ukraine, together with partners, will be able to find a way to form an expert group and people who will be ready to fulfill the mission that the Red Cross has to perform.

The ICRC has not yet received access to the Olenivka colony where Ukrainian prisoners of war got killed, but is trying to get there.

According to ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, none of the Ukrainian defenders in Russian captivity has seen representatives of the Red Cross who undertook to check the condition of the prisoners.

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