Russian Airstrike on Ukraine Prison Kills 17, Injures Dozens

• Jul 29, 2025

A deadly Russian airstrike on a prison in southeastern Ukraine has killed 17 inmates and left 42 others injured, according to Ukrainian officials. The attack occurred overnight in the frontline Zaporizhzhia region, where Russian forces dropped high-explosive aerial glide bombs.

Ivan Fedorov, the regional leader, said the airstrikes also damaged nearby residential homes. A total of eight bombs were launched during the strike, with four of them hitting the Bilenke penitentiary. The bombs destroyed key parts of the facility, including the dining hall, quarantine area, and administrative offices.

Ukraine’s justice ministry confirmed that all the casualties were prisoners. Andriy Yermak, the head of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office, described the attack as “another war crime” by Russia. He emphasized that targeting people in detention is a grave violation of international law.

The region of Zaporizhzhia is one of four eastern areas that Russia claimed to annex in 2022, although much of it remains under Ukrainian control. Since the start of the full-scale invasion that same year, Zaporizhzhia has frequently been targeted by Russian forces.

Ukraine’s human rights commissioner also condemned the strike, pointing out that prisoners still retain the right to life and protection under humanitarian law, regardless of their incarceration status.

The latest attack follows a wave of ongoing strikes across eastern Ukraine. Late Monday, a missile and drone assault in the Dnipropetrovsk region resulted in more casualties. Two people were killed and five injured in the industrial city of Kamyanske. Another person died and several were hurt in the Synelnykivsky district. In a nearby village, a 75-year-old woman was killed and a 68-year-old man injured when their home was hit.

Russia has also claimed advances in Dnipropetrovsk, announcing that its forces had captured the village of Maliyevka over the weekend. Ukrainian officials, however, have denied those claims.

Meanwhile, in Russia, officials reported that Ukraine launched several drone attacks overnight. In the Rostov region, one person was killed in their car in Salsk, and a goods train was set on fire. In Belgorod, another person died in a car and his wife was wounded.

These developments come amid renewed international pressure. On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Russia had “10 or 12 days” to agree to a ceasefire or face strong sanctions. Speaking in Scotland, he hinted at swift action, saying, “There’s no reason to wait, if you know what the answer is.” Trump had earlier given the Kremlin 50 days to halt its aggression, but the ongoing strikes suggest Moscow has yet to comply.