This photo provided by Ukraine’s State Criminal Executive Service shows a damaged prison in the village of Bilenke, in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, following a Russian bomb attack that killed at least 17 inmates, on Tuesday, July 29, 2025.
Russia intensified its military offensive in Ukraine, killing at least 27 civilians in one night through a barrage of deadly attacks. Despite mounting global pressure, including a new ultimatum from former U.S. President Donald Trump, the Kremlin remains defiant.
Missile and glide bomb strikes devastated a prison in the Zaporizhzhia region and a medical facility in Dnipro, as Ukraine reels from one of the deadliest nights in recent weeks.
Deadly Night of Attacks Across Ukraine
Russia launched an overnight assault using glide bombs, ballistic missiles, and drones. Ukrainian officials reported that 73 towns and villages were struck, resulting in widespread destruction.
Four Russian glide bombs hit a prison in southeastern Ukraine, killing 16 inmates and injuring more than 90. The Bilenkivska Correctional Facility’s dining hall was destroyed. Quarantine and administrative buildings were also damaged, though no escapes occurred.
In central Ukraine’s Dnipro region, missiles destroyed a residential building and damaged nearby hospitals, including a maternity ward. At least five civilians, including a pregnant woman, died in the attack.
Russian forces also targeted a grocery store in Kharkiv, killing five and injuring three. In Kherson, one civilian was killed and three others were wounded over the past 24 hours.
Ukraine Condemns War Crimes
Ukrainian officials labelled the attacks as deliberate war crimes. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strikes, stating they were "conscious, deliberate," and not accidental.
Targeting civilian infrastructure such as prisons and hospitals violates international law. This latest prison attack came exactly three years after a deadly explosion at Olenivka detention facility, where over 50 Ukrainian prisoners died. Investigations point to Russia’s involvement.
Trump Pushes for Ceasefire, Kremlin Rejects Ultimatums
Donald Trump, during a visit to Scotland, issued a 10-day deadline to Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war or face "sanctions and tariffs." This was a shortened version of a 50-day ultimatum previously set.
Zelenskyy welcomed the push for peace, emphasizing that Ukraine, Europe, and the U.S. all seek an end to the violence — except Russia.
The Kremlin, however, dismissed Trump’s warning. Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and current Security Council deputy head, warned Trump not to issue ultimatums.
“Each new ultimatum is a step toward war — not with Ukraine, but with America itself,” Medvedev posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Russia Justifies War to Its Public
Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War say the Kremlin is positioning itself in direct opposition to the West. This narrative is used to justify continued aggression and rally domestic support.
Despite Trump's push and growing international condemnation, Russia remains committed to its military goals in Ukraine.
Glide Bombs and Missiles Wreak Havoc
Russia’s use of Soviet-era glide bombs — now retrofitted with advanced guidance systems — has proven devastating. Each bomb can carry up to 3,000 kilograms of explosives, targeting civilian and strategic sites with precision.
In addition to the prison strike, Russia fired 37 Shahed-type drones and two Iskander-M ballistic missiles. Ukraine intercepted 32 of the drones overnight, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
Ukraine Responds with Drone Offensives
Ukraine countered with its own long-range drone attacks aimed at Russia’s military infrastructure. Oil depots, weapons plants, and railway stations were targeted to disrupt logistics.
Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed to have downed 74 Ukrainian drones overnight. In one incident, a drone strike in the Rostov region killed a man and caused a fire at the Salsk railway station, halting traffic and damaging nearby trains.
Russia Reports Village Seizures
The Russian Defense Ministry announced the capture of Novoukrainka in Donetsk and Temyrivka in Zaporizhzhia, part of its slow and grinding effort to advance through eastern Ukraine.
While Russia pushes forward on the battlefield, Ukraine continues to resist with drone technology and international support — but the human toll continues to rise.
As Russia escalates its assault on Ukraine with deadly glide bombs and missiles, global calls for peace intensify. Trump’s ultimatum has added political heat, but the Kremlin shows no signs of backing down. With civilian deaths mounting and infrastructure collapsing, the war grinds on with devastating consequences for both nations.
