17 prisoners were killed and 42 others wounded in an airstrike by a Russian plane at a prison in southeastern Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region late Monday evening. Ukrainian authorities attested that the attack used high-explosive aerial glide bombs that struck the Bilenke penitentiary. The explosion also affected neighbouring residential homes.
The attack occurred when former US President Donald Trump delivered a stern warning to Moscow, threatening that it had only “10 or 12 days” to accept a ceasefire or face broad sanctions. But Russia pressed on with the barrage of missiles, killing civilians elsewhere too. Ukraine denounced the bombing of the prison as a war crime. Russia, meanwhile, claimed new Ukrainian drone raids on its border towns.
Attack on Prison Kills 17, Injures 42
Four bombs struck the Bilenke prison, levelling major prison facilities—its cafeteria, quarantine section, and administrative buildings. All the victims were prisoners.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Justice confirmed the number of victims and the extent of the destruction. Ivan Fedorov, Zaporizhzhia region governor, announced the airstrike consisted of eight Russian glide bombs. He reported that nearby homes were targeted as well.
Kyiv Declares It a War Crime
Ukraine’s top official, Andriy Yermak, said the attack was “another war crime.” The nation’s human rights commissioner said the same. He emphasized that detainees don’t lose their right to life or protection from humanitarian law.
This is yet another in a series of bombings on Zaporizhzhia—one of four territories Russia says it annexed since 2022, but still in Ukrainian hands.
Eastern Ukraine Sees More Civilian Deaths
Russia did not leave Zaporizhzhia behind. Strikes in the Dnipropetrovsk region late Monday night murdered several civilians. Two were killed and five were injured in Kamyanske. One was killed and several were injured in another strike in Synelnykivsky.
A 75-year-old woman was killed, and a 68-year-old man was injured in a nearby village. Those strikes came as Russian troops advanced further into the region, with claims that they took Maliyevka. Ukraine rebutted those assertions.
Trump Announces Ceasefire Deadline
Addressing Scotland, Donald Trump instructed the media that Moscow had approximately “10 or 12 days” in which to sign a truce. “There’s no reason to wait,” he said.
Trump earlier set Russia a 50-day deadline in early July, which wasn’t enough to put the brakes on. Now, the President has issued a threat of instant economic sanctions if a ceasefire is not agreed.
Ukraine Strikes Back with Drone Attacks
Ukraine carried out overnight drone strikes on Russia’s Rostov and Belgorod provinces. In Salsk, a man was killed in his car when it was hit by a drone. The attack also engulfed a goods train in flames.
In Belgorod, another man was killed in his car, and his wife was wounded. These events highlight how the conflict has spread across borders.
Crisis of Protection for Prisoners of War
The bombing of the prison layers a disturbing aspect into the Ukraine-Russia war: the deliberate targeting of individuals under detention. These detainees played no role in the fighting.
Nevertheless, they lost their lives. International law safeguards detainees. Russia’s actions contradict that expectation, and it is sure to ignite fear of wider abuses and impunity.
While Trump’s deadline draws near, Russia continues on a path of no de-escalation. The attacks spread. The civilian death toll mounts. Even detainees are now being targeted. The conflict enters its greyer phase—one where diplomacy has to play a race against devastation.
