Russia and Ukraine trade blame for shelling of jail holding prisoners of war

Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov described the strike as a “bloody provocation” aimed at discouraging Ukrainian soldiers from surrendering

Soldiers who were captured in Mariupol were reportedly killed (Alexei Alexandrov/AP)

Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of shelling a prison in a separatist eastern region that reportedly killed dozens of Ukrainian prisoners of war who were captured after the fall of Mariupol in May.

Russia said that Ukraine used US-supplied HIMARS multiple rocket launchers in the attack on the prison in Olenivka, in the Russian-controlled Donetsk region.