Tre anni dopo, fa ancora male allo stesso modo: le persone in cherkasy onorano il ricordo di quelli uccisi nell’attacco terroristico di Olenivka

On July 27, the city of Cherkasy held an event titled “Don’t Be Silent – Captivity Kills,” commemorating the third anniversary of the terror attack in Olenivka. People gathered in Soborna Square with flags and posters, relatives and friends of fallen defenders, volunteers, soldiers. Passing drivers were encouraged to honk in solidarity and support the families of the fallen.

Tetiana Lisova is a member of the association of families whose loved ones died in the Olenivka colony, the declaration of July 28 as a national day of remembrance is a small victory after years of struggle for official recognition:

“It took years of fighting for the victims of the Olenivka attack and others who died in captivity to be honored at the national level. Establishing this day, July 28, is a small victory.”

Lisova’s brother, Dmytro, was killed in Olenivka in barrack No. 200.  Together with other families of those who perished in the Olenivka colony, she helped form an organization for mutual support:

“Today I came with other relatives whose loved ones also died in that barrack. I always try to tell my brother’s story, because keeping his memory alive is so important. I encourage other families to do the same. But the pain doesn’t go away, even after three years, it still hurts just as much. It’s emotionally draining.”

Iryna’s husband also died in Olenivka, attended the event as well. She says she still cannot talk about the tragedy without tears:

“I come to these events and feel for everyone involved. But it’s hard for me to speak about Olenivka. I always feel like crying.”

Lisova added that Ukraine must set an example for the world in honoring POWs killed by the enemy:

“Because if even Ukraine didn’t recognize this as a tragedy,  if we stayed silent about how many prisoners were tortured,  then how can we expect the global community to care?”