**Russian Strike on Bilenke Penal Colony Leaves 17 Dead, Over 40 Injured**
On July 28, Russian forces carried out an airstrike on the Bilenke Penal Colony in Zaporizhzhia region using four guided aerial bombs. The attack resulted in the deaths of 17 inmates and injured over 40 others.
**Details of the Attack**
According to a report by Censor.NET, citing the press center of the Ministry of Justice, the strike completely destroyed the facility’s dining hall and caused significant damage to the administrative headquarters and quarantine unit. Those with severe injuries were hospitalized in Ministry of Health facilities, while around 40 others sustained varying degrees of bodily injuries.
**Response from Ukrainian Authorities**
Approximately 50 security officers of the State Criminal-Executive Service of Ukraine have been deployed to maintain order at the facility. All those injured have received medical assistance and are currently under supervision in the medical unit, duty unit, and other departments of the institution. The facility’s perimeter remains intact, and there is no threat of escape.
**Statement from the Ministry of Justice**
“This strike once again demonstrates a gross violation of international humanitarian law by the armed forces of the Russian Federation,” said the Ministry of Justice. “The shelling of civilian infrastructure, including penitentiary institutions, is regarded as a war crime.”
This attack comes just hours after Russian forces attacked one of the penitentiary facilities in the Zaporizhzhia region overnight, killing 16 people and injuring 35 others.
**International Implications**
The attack on the Bilenke Penal Colony highlights the disregard for international humanitarian law by Russian forces. The shelling of civilian infrastructure, including penitentiary institutions, is considered a war crime under international law.
**Read More**
To learn more about this incident and its implications, please visit [empr.media/news/conflict-zone/aftermath-of-russian-strike-on-bilenke-penal-colony-17-dead-over-40-injured/](http://empr.media/news/conflict-zone/aftermath-of-russian-strike-on-bilenke-penal-colony-17-dead-over-40-injured/)
