A series of Russian missile and bomb attacks across Ukraine have left at least 25 dead and dozens wounded, according to local authorities. The strikes targeted civilian infrastructure, including a prison and a hospital, escalating tensions as diplomatic efforts to halt the fighting face a critical deadline.
In the southern Zaporizhzhia region, a penal facility in Bilenke was struck by multiple glide bombs late Monday night, killing 16 inmates and injuring more than 50. The attack destroyed key sections of the prison, including the dining area and administrative offices. Ukrainian officials condemned the assault as a blatant violation of international humanitarian law, emphasizing that detainees retain fundamental rights to safety.
Elsewhere, five civilians were killed in the Kharkiv region while waiting in line for humanitarian aid. In the central Dnipropetrovsk region, a hospital in Kamianske was hit, claiming three lives—among them a 23-year-old pregnant woman. Regional officials shared images of the devastation, with bodies lying near the ruins of a shop and medical facilities reduced to rubble.
The strikes occurred as international pressure mounts on Moscow to agree to a ceasefire. A high-ranking U.S. official recently set an August 8 deadline for Russia to halt hostilities or face severe economic sanctions. However, there has been no indication that the ultimatum has deterred Russian military operations.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces continue to retaliate. Overnight drone strikes in Russia’s Rostov and Belgorod regions reportedly left at least two dead, including a civilian in a vehicle. A freight train was also set ablaze in the attacks.
As the conflict grinds on, both sides remain entrenched in their positions, with no immediate signs of de-escalation. The latest violence underscores the grim reality that, despite diplomatic overtures, the war shows little sign of abating.
