A vehicle belonging to Dmitry Neelov, a suspect in Ukrainian war crimes investigations, was destroyed by an explosive device in occupied Donetsk.
Key facts
- •Dmitry Neelov serves as the first deputy head of the Olenivka penal colony.
- •The car bombing occurred in occupied Donetsk overnight on August 28–29.
- •Neelov faces charges in Ukraine for war crimes, including the torture of prisoners.
- •Former colony head Sergey Yevsyukov was killed in a similar car bombing in December 2024.
- •The July 2022 missile strike at Olenivka resulted in 53 deaths and 75 injuries among Ukrainian POWs.
A car belonging to Dmitry Neelov, the first deputy head of the Olenivka penal colony in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, was destroyed by an explosive device overnight between August 28 and 29. Ukrainian news outlets reported the incident citing sources, though it remains unconfirmed whether Neelov was injured in the blast.
By the numbers
Background on Olenivka and War Crimes Charges
The Olenivka penal colony was the site of a July 2022 missile strike that killed 53 Ukrainian prisoners of war and wounded 75 others. While Russia and Ukraine have traded blame for the attack, Ukrainian authorities have focused their investigation on the facility's leadership. In 2024, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) named Neelov and former colony head Sergey Yevsyukov as suspects, alleging they delayed medical evacuations for wounded prisoners. By spring 2026, Neelov faced formal charges for war crimes, including the torture and humiliation of prisoners of war and civilians.
Previous Targeting of Colony Officials
The incident follows the death of Sergey Yevsyukov, the former head of the Olenivka colony, who was killed in a car bombing in central Donetsk in December 2024. Following Yevsyukov's death, the Russian Federal Security Service reported the detention of a local resident suspected of involvement in that attack.
Timeline
- July 29, 2022A missile strike hit the Olenivka penal colony, killing 53 prisoners.
- December 2024Former colony head Sergey Yevsyukov was killed in a car bombing.
- Spring 2026The SBU and Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office charged Neelov with war crimes.
- August 28–29A car belonging to Dmitry Neelov was blown up in occupied Donetsk.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Meduza (English).
