Prison boss killed in car blast in occupied Ukraine
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Sergei Yevsyukov, former head of a prison in Russian-occupied Ukraine, was killed in a car bomb attack in Donetsk, part of a series of targeted strikes on pro-Kremlin figures. [Russian Investigations Committee]
Sergei Yevsyukov, the former head of a notorious prison in Russian-occupied Ukraine, was reportedly killed in a car explosion in Donetsk, marking the latest in a series of targeted attacks on pro-Kremlin figures in occupied territories. Ukrainian media reports state that Yevsyukov, 49, was killed when an explosive device planted under his car detonated, with some outlets estimating the blast was equivalent to about 100 grams of TNT.
Yevsyukov was the chief of Olenivka Prison, where in July 2022, dozens of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) were killed in a missile strike. Russia initially blamed Ukraine for the attack, but Ukraine countered by suggesting that Russia had struck the prison deliberately to eliminate evidence of torture and other alleged war crimes committed by Russian forces.
The attack that killed Yevsyukov occurred near Donetsk city center on Monday, prompting an immediate criminal investigation by Russian authorities. While the Russian authorities did not confirm the identity of the victims, they reported that two local residents had been injured in the blast. Ukrainian bloggers later claimed that Yevsyukov’s wife was also severely injured in the explosion, losing a leg and being hospitalized in critical condition.
The Russian Investigations Committee stated that they were conducting a “detailed examination of the scene” and performing a series of operational and investigative measures to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident. Footage from the scene showed a burnt-out white SUV parked along a major street in Donetsk, further indicating the severity of the explosion.
Yevsyukov’s death is seen as part of a broader pattern of targeted killings by Ukraine of Russian figures and collaborators in occupied territories. This string of attacks on Russian officers, military officials, and pro-Kremlin figures has escalated over the past year, particularly in regions controlled by Russia in eastern Ukraine and Crimea. In November, Valery Trankovsky, a senior naval officer accused of war crimes by Ukraine, was killed in Crimea. Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, remains a focal point of the ongoing conflict. Ukrainian intelligence reportedly orchestrated Trankovsky’s assassination, according to AFP, citing Ukrainian security sources.
In October, Ukraine took responsibility for a car bomb attack that killed an official at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, a critical site in the ongoing war. Earlier in April, a similar attack in the Luhansk region, also under Russian control, targeted and killed a Moscow-appointed government official, further highlighting the pattern of violence against pro-Kremlin figures in occupied territories.
Donetsk and much of the surrounding region in eastern Ukraine were first seized by Russian-backed separatists in 2014, and Moscow has maintained partial control of the area since then. This region has been one of the most fiercely contested zones of the war, experiencing some of the heaviest fighting as both sides struggle for control.
The rise in these targeted killings reflects the intensifying conflict in the region, where both Ukrainian and Russian forces continue to engage in military operations. The presence of Russian-installed officials in occupied territories has made them frequent targets for Ukrainian forces seeking to disrupt Russian authority in these areas. The ongoing violence in Donetsk and other eastern regions underscores the long-standing and brutal nature of the conflict, which has shown no signs of abating as the war enters its nearly third year.
These targeted attacks on pro-Kremlin figures in the occupied territories and within Russia serve as a reminder of the ongoing resistance against Russian occupation. Ukraine’s security services, including intelligence agencies, have reportedly carried out several of these operations, with varying levels of success. The killings have been presented as part of Ukraine’s broader strategy to weaken Russian influence in the occupied regions and signal its determination to fight back against Russian aggression.
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