Explosives detonate inside a Ukrainian penal institution, claiming lives of 17 individuals, attributed to Russian forces.
In the early hours of July 29, 2025, a series of powerful glide bombs, allegedly from Russia, struck the Bilenkivska Penal Colony No. 99 in southeastern Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of at least 17 lives, with around 80 to nearly 100 more left injured [1][3][4].
The attack also caused significant damage to nearby buildings and medical facilities, including a hospital. The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine swiftly condemned the attack, stating that it violated international humanitarian law as prisoners, as civilians, must be protected, and attacks should only target military objectives [3].
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy characterized the strike as a deliberate attack on civilian targets, part of ongoing Russian strikes that claimed the lives of 22 people across 73 cities and towns in Ukraine that day [1]. Among the casualties was a 23-year-old pregnant woman who died in a missile strike on a hospital in another southeastern region [1].
The Ukrainian justice ministry reported the damage, but independent verification was not possible at the time of reporting [1]. The prison's dining hall was destroyed, and other parts were damaged in a strike that involved four high-explosive aerial bombs [1].
Russia, however, denied responsibility for the strike [3]. The United States, through former President Donald Trump (not currently in office as of 2025), had issued a warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin to cease killings by early August or face sanctions and tariffs, reflecting continued U.S. condemnation and pressure on Russia over the conflict [1].
Trump had earlier stated that he would give 10 or 12 days for Russia to make progress towards ending the war [1]. As of now, there is no new information about any new developments regarding Putin's deadline for peace.
This event underscores the ongoing intensity and civilian toll of the Russia-Ukraine conflict as of late July 2025 [1][3][4]. The conflict, now in its fourth year, has seen Russia increase airstrikes far behind the front line, with grinding gains being reported [2]. The international community continues to call for an end to the violence and protection of civilian lives.
References
- BBC News
- Reuters
- United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine
- The Guardian
- This incident, reported by BBC News and The Guardian, highlights the interconnection of war-and-conflicts, politics, and general-news, as it involves a deliberate attack on civilian targets in Ukraine, allegedly by Russia.
- The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, covered extensively by international sources such as Reuters, BBC News, and the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, also encompasses crime-and-justice issues, with ongoing human rights violations and attacks on medical facilities.
