In a devastating overnight attack, Russian forces launched a series of airstrikes on a prison in the frontline region of Zaporizhzhia, southeastern Ukraine, resulting in the death of 17 inmates and leaving 42 others wounded. The assault, which Ukrainian officials describe as a deliberate targeting of the correctional facility, has drawn sharp condemnation from President Volodymyr Zelensky and the international community.

According to regional leader Ivan Fedorov, the Russian military unleashed eight strikes using high-explosive aerial glide bombs, causing extensive damage not only to the prison but also to surrounding residential areas. The Ukrainian Justice Ministry reported that four bombs struck the Bilenke penitentiary, obliterating key structures including the dining hall, administrative headquarters, and quarantine area.

President Zelensky denounced the attack as a "deliberate strike" on Ukrainian lives, emphasizing that a ceasefire "could have long been in place." The assault on the prison, located in a region that Russia claims to have annexed since 2022 despite much of it remaining under Ukrainian control, has been labeled a gross violation of humanitarian law by Ukraine's human rights commissioner.

The incident occurs against a backdrop of escalating tensions and ongoing conflict in the region. U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark ultimatum to Moscow, warning of imminent sanctions if Russia fails to agree to a ceasefire within "10 or 12 days." This ultimatum follows a previous 50-day deadline set earlier in July, which has seemingly done little to deter Russian aggression.

As the conflict continues to unfold, both sides report casualties from recent attacks. In the Dnipropetrovsk region of eastern Ukraine, missile and drone strikes have claimed additional lives and left several wounded. Simultaneously, Russian officials allege that Ukrainian forces have launched drone attacks in the southern Rostov region and the border region of Belgorod, resulting in civilian casualties.

The recent surge in violence underscores the urgent need for diplomatic intervention and a lasting ceasefire. As the international community watches closely, the coming days may prove critical in determining the course of this protracted and devastating conflict.