Russian Airstrike on Ukrainian Prison Kills 17 Inmates in Zaporizhzhia, 42 Injured

New Delhi, July 29 (TNA) In a devastating overnight airstrike, Russian forces targeted a prison facility in the southeastern border region of Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, killing 17 inmates and injuring 42 others, according to Ukrainian officials.

Regional head Ivan Fedorov confirmed that the attack involved at least eight aerial glide bombs, which not only destroyed key prison structures but also damaged nearby residential buildings. The Ukrainian Ministry of Justice stated that four direct bomb hits struck the prison’s administrative block, quarantine area, and dining hall.

All victims in the strike were reportedly prisoners. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack, calling it a "deliberate strike" and accusing Russia of systematically targeting and killing Ukrainians. “This war could have ended long ago,” he said, underscoring the urgent need for international action.

Zaporizhzhia is one of the four eastern regions claimed by Russia since 2022, though it remains largely under Ukrainian control. The attack is the latest in a string of escalations as both sides brace for intensified conflict amid calls for a ceasefire.