Ukraine Condemns Russian Attack on Zaporizhzhia Prison as 'Another War Crime'

In a harrowing escalation of violence in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, a Russian strike on a prison and medical facility in southeastern Ukraine has left at least 21 civilians dead, according to Ukrainian officials. The attack, which occurred overnight, has been condemned as a 'war crime' by Ukrainian leadership, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, calling it a deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure.

The attack targeted the Bilenkivska Correctional Facility in the Zaporizhzhia region, where four guided aerial bombs struck. At least 42 inmates were hospitalized with serious injuries, and another 40 people, including one staff member, sustained various injuries. The prison’s dining hall was destroyed, and administrative and quarantine buildings were damaged. However, the perimeter fence remained intact, and no escapes were reported.

The assault on the prison and a nearby medical facility in the Dnipro region, where at least four people were killed and eight injured, has drawn international condemnation. Ukrainian officials argue that such attacks on civilian infrastructure, including prisons, are a violation of international conventions and constitute war crimes.

The timing of the attack has been particularly controversial, as it came just days after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a new deadline for Russia to end the war. Trump, who had previously given Putin a 50-day window to halt the conflict, now claims he is reducing that period to 10 to 12 days, pushing for a resolution by August 7 to 9. He has repeatedly criticized Putin for continuing to bomb Ukrainian civilians despite rhetoric about ending the war.

In response, the Kremlin has pushed back, with former President Dmitry Medvedev, who now serves as a deputy head of the Security Council, warning Trump against “playing the ultimatum game with Russia.” Medvedev argued that each new ultimatum is a threat and a step toward war—not just between Russia and Ukraine, but potentially with the United States itself.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian air force reported that Russia launched two Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 37 Shahed-type strike drones and decoys at Ukraine overnight. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted or neutralized 32 of the drones, but the attack still caused significant damage. Anti-drone nets have been installed in frontline towns like Orikhiv, as part of efforts to mitigate the threat from Russian aerial attacks.

The attack on the maternity hospital in Kamianske, which partially destroyed a three-story building and damaged medical facilities, has further underscored the humanitarian toll of the conflict. Two people were killed, including a pregnant woman who is now in serious condition, and five others were injured. Regional head Serhii Lysak described the situation as a “tragedy” that highlights the ongoing targeting of civilian infrastructure.

As the war enters its fourth year, the international community continues to grapple with the implications of Russia’s actions. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly called for stronger sanctions and support from Western allies, while Russian forces show no signs of halting their attacks. The global community now faces a critical moment in determining the course of the conflict—and whether it will continue to escalate or see a path toward resolution.