A Russian overnight airstrike targeting a prison facility in southeastern Ukraine has killed 17 inmates and injured 42 more, according to Ukrainian officials. The Bilenke penitentiary in Zaporizhzhia was hit by four high-explosive aerial glide bombs, destroying the dining hall, administrative headquarters, and quarantine area.
Regional governor Ivan Fedorov reported additional damage to nearby civilian homes, describing the assault as part of a broader pattern of aggressive strikes. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, condemned the attack as “another war crime,” underscoring growing international concern over Russia’s escalating tactics.
Ukraine’s justice ministry confirmed that all casualties were detainees. Human rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinets labeled the attack a gross violation of humanitarian law, asserting that those in detention retain legal protections, including the right to life.
Wider Campaign of Escalation
The airstrike in Zaporizhzhia — a region Russia claims to have annexed but remains largely under Ukrainian control — is part of an intensifying campaign. Late Monday, missile and drone attacks in the Dnipropetrovsk region killed at least five civilians and wounded several more. These included fatalities in Kamyanske and Synelnykivsky district, where a 75-year-old woman died after her home was struck.
Russian advances were also reported over the weekend in Maliyevka, though Ukrainian officials dispute claims of territorial capture.
International Fallout and Ultimatum from Trump
Amidst this renewed escalation, former U.S. President Donald Trump issued a blunt warning to Moscow, demanding a ceasefire within “10 or 12 days” or face severe sanctions. Speaking during a visit to Scotland, Trump hinted at an imminent announcement, emphasizing, “There’s no reason to wait, if you know what the answer is.”
This follows a previous 50-day deadline in early July that failed to deter continued Russian aggression.
Cross-Border Retaliation
On the Russian side, officials allege Ukraine launched dozens of drones overnight, resulting in the death of one civilian in Salsk, Rostov region, and another in Belgorod. A goods train was reportedly set ablaze.
The wave of reciprocal strikes highlights the intensifying volatility of the war, with civilians on both sides facing growing risks as military operations expand across contested borders.
