PrisonAssault in Zaporizhzhia - death toll at 17, 42 injured; graphic images and footage available
In the early hours of the night between 28th and 29th July 2025, a Russian attack targeted the Bilenkivska Correctional Colony in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Ukraine. The strike, reportedly carried out with four guided aerial bombs, resulted in at least 16 fatalities, mostly prisoners, and injuries ranging from 35 to nearly 100.
The attack destroyed the prison's dining hall, administrative, and quarantine buildings, causing severe damage. Nearby homes were also damaged in the incident. Despite the extensive destruction, authorities confirmed that no prisoners managed to escape, and the facility's perimeter remains intact.
The attack occurred approximately 25 kilometres from the frontline in southeastern Ukraine and was described by Ukrainian officials as a deliberate strike on a civilian facility, which may constitute a serious violation of international humanitarian law. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) emphasised that prisoners are civilians and must be protected, stating that attacks should only target military objectives, not civilian objects like prisons unless used militarily.
Russia has denied responsibility for the attack. The incident is part of a series of attacks in the region on the same night, which included drone and missile strikes causing civilian casualties and property damage. Other targets included a hospital in Kamianske.
Ukrainian authorities claimed that Russia launched 37 drones and two missiles during these attacks, with air defences successfully shooting down most drones. Medical treatment is being provided to those affected by the attack, and fifty security officers from the State Criminal Enforcement Service of Ukraine have been deployed to maintain order at the facility.
This tragic event raises legal concerns, with potential war crime implications, as civilians were targeted in the attack. The international community is closely monitoring the situation and calling for accountability.
The tragic prison attack in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Ukraine, raises concerns beyond military action, as it may have breached international humanitarian law, considering prisoners are civilians and facilities like prisons should be protected. Meanwhile, the international community is watching closely and calling for accountability in this potential war crime situation. The attack on the prison, which resulted in numerous fatalities and injuries, was not an isolated incident, as it was part of a series of attacks on the same night that also targeted civilian objects such as a hospital in Kamianske.
