At least 25 people were killed and dozens injured across Ukraine in a wave of overnight and early morning Russian airstrikes, with attacks targeting a prison, hospital, and civilians receiving humanitarian aid, Ukrainian officials reported Tuesday.
Deadliest Strike Hits Prison in Zaporizhzhia
The most lethal attack occurred at the Bilenke penitentiary in Zaporizhzhia, where 16 inmates were killed and over 50 others injured, according to Ukraine’s justice ministry. Four glide bombs reportedly destroyed key facilities, including the dining hall, quarantine area, and administration block. The justice ministry initially reported 17 deaths but later revised the figure to 16.
Ukraine’s Human Rights Commissioner condemned the prison strike as a gross violation of humanitarian law, stressing that incarcerated individuals retain the right to life and protection.
Civilians Killed in Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk
- In Kharkiv’s Novoplatonivka village, five civilians were killed while queuing for humanitarian aid near a local shop.
- In Kamianske, three people were killed in a hospital bombing, including a 23-year-old pregnant woman named Diana, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed.
Ukraine released graphic images showing the aftermath, with bodies lying amid debris in both regions.
Trump Issues Ceasefire Deadline
In response to the escalating violence, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed a new 8 August deadline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire, warning that failure to do so would result in sweeping sanctions. This marks a reduction from a previously issued 50-day ultimatum.
“Russia must be forced to stop the killings and make peace,” Zelensky said, echoing the call for “tough” sanctions.
Continued Fighting and Escalation
Despite international pressure, Russia claimed progress on the battlefield, announcing the seizure of Maliivka village in Dnipropetrovsk—a claim Kyiv has denied. The attacks are part of intensified efforts by Moscow to secure control over four southeastern Ukrainian regions it claims to have annexed since 2022, despite not fully controlling any.
Ukrainian Drone Strikes Inside Russia
Meanwhile, in Russia, Ukrainian drones targeted areas in Rostov and Belgorod, killing two civilians and setting fire to a freight train. Russian officials reported damage in Salsk and other border towns.
