Russian Airstrikes on Prison, Hospital Kill 19 in Southeastern Ukraine
Sixteen of the fatalities occurred when Russia bombed a prison in the frontline Zaporizhzhia region, injuring 43 people, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said.
"The Russians knew it was a civilian facility. They could not have been unaware," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address. "Each such Russian strike, each instance of Russian arrogance in response to global calls to end the war, all this only confirms that pressure is necessary."
ATTACK ON CIVILIAN FACILITIES
Separately, a missile strike on a hospital in the neighbouring Dnipropetrovsk region killed a 23-year-old pregnant woman and two others, Zelenskiy said, bringing the overall death toll from the past 24 hours to 22.
Ukraine's Justice Ministry reported that the prison's dining hall was destroyed and other parts of the facility were damaged in the strike, which involved four high-explosive bombs. Officials said 42 others were wounded.
"People were screaming, moaning," prisoner Yaroslav Samarskiy, 54, said, recalling the aftermath. "Some dead, some alive, some without legs – half of them burned."
Russia denied targeting civilians. Moscow has intensified airstrikes on Ukrainian towns and cities behind the front lines as it pushes forward on the battlefield in the fourth year of its invasion. Russian forces now occupy about a fifth of Ukrainian territory.
TRUMP SHORTENS DEADLINE FOR PUTIN
Trump said on Tuesday that he had shortened his earlier deadline of 50 days to 10 or 12 days for Russian President Vladimir Putin to make progress toward ending the war.
"I have heard no reply from Russia," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he returned from Scotland. He said tariffs and other measures could be imposed within 10 days.
The Kremlin said it had "taken note" of Trump's comments. "The special military operation continues," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, using Moscow's term for the war.
Separately, five people were killed on Tuesday morning in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region after a Russian strike hit a humanitarian aid point in a frontline village, a senior police official said.
In Zaporizhzhia, injured inmates from the prison strike waded through rubble and broken glass as guards yelled out a roll call. Bandaged and bloodied, many sat in shock.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
21 minutes ago
- CNA
Kremlin confirms Trump-Putin summit plans as Zelenskiy pushes for European role
MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump will meet 'in the coming days,' the Kremlin said on Thursday (August 7), as Trump seeks a breakthrough to end the war in Ukraine after voicing frustration with Moscow and threatening fresh sanctions. The announcement came a day after Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, held three hours of talks with Putin in Moscow. Trump has said that unless Putin agrees to peace by Friday (August 8), the US will impose new sanctions on Russia and countries that continue buying its exports. Trump on Wednesday raised tariffs on Indian goods over Russian oil purchases and hinted that similar actions may follow for China. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters the two sides had agreed to hold a summit 'in the coming days.' Putin, during a meeting with the president of the United Arab Emirates, said the UAE would be a 'suitable' venue but did not confirm it as the host. The last US-Russia summit took place in Geneva in June 2021, when Putin met then-President Joe Biden. ZELENSKIY INSISTS ON EUROPEAN INVOLVEMENT Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday that Europe must be part of any peace talks, noting that 'the war is happening in Europe, and Ukraine is an integral part of Europe.' Zelenskiy held separate talks with the leaders of France and Germany and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, adding: 'Europe must be a participant in the relevant processes.' 'The war must end with a dignified peace,' Zelenskiy said on X, arguing that the outcome of any deal would shape the continent's security landscape for decades. While Kyiv and its allies have long feared that Trump might pressure Ukraine into accepting unfavourable terms, Zelenskiy said Ukraine 'is not afraid of meetings and expects the same brave approach from the Russian side.' He confirmed that various bilateral and trilateral meeting formats had been discussed with Trump. MARKET REACTION, SCEPTICISM OVER MOTIVES Russia's MOEX stock index rose 5 per cent to a two-month high on news of the summit, and the rouble strengthened against both the US dollar and Chinese yuan. 'Russian stocks are soaring. Investors hope the (Trump-Putin) meeting will be a step towards normalizing the geopolitical situation,' Alfa Bank analysts said. A White House official also said a meeting could happen as early as next week. The New York Times reported Trump told European leaders on Wednesday that he planned to meet Putin and then follow up with a trilateral summit including Zelenskiy. A source familiar with the call said Witkoff participated in the conversation and briefed leaders on what Putin might be willing to agree to. National security advisers were expected to hold an online meeting later Thursday to discuss the proposal. MUTUAL SUSPICIONS REMAIN Putin said on Thursday he was open to meeting Zelenskiy in principle, but added that conditions for such a meeting were 'far from being met.' Ushakov said the Russian side had left Witkoff's proposal for a trilateral meeting 'completely without comment.' Mykola Bielieskov, a senior analyst in Kyiv, warned that the summit could allow Russia to project an image of legitimacy without making concessions. 'Offering Putin a summit is like giving him a reward without getting anything in return,' he said. 'The Kremlin will continue to drag out time, using the very fact of the meetings as proof of openness to negotiations without actually changing its stance.'
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Zelenskiy discussed with IMF head new financial assistance for Ukraine
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks during a press conference on the first day of the two-day Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2025), on plans for the reconstruction of Ukraine, in Rome, Italy, July 10, 2025. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane/File Photo Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday he had discussed a new International Monetary Fund financial assistance programme for Ukraine with the Fund's Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. "We discussed a new programme of financial assistance that will strengthen Ukrainians now and in the post-war period," Zelenskiy wrote on the Telegram messaging app of the phone meeting. "We are prepared to carry out the necessary steps quickly. The government is already working on this." Ukraine's current $15.5-billion programme with the IMF expires in 2027. Officials say part of that programme deals with reconstruction and Ukraine's needs have changed as the war drags on. Moscow invaded its smaller neighbour in February 2022. Analysts say Ukraine's financing gap will widen significantly next year if Russia keeps up its intense attacks across the country and the government fails to act on demands for reform from foreign lenders. REUTERS
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Russia makes new protest to Italy in dispute over cancelled Gergiev concert
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Russia said on Thursday it had made a new protest to Italy in a dispute over the cancellation of a concert in Italy where Valery Gergiev, a renowned Russian conductor with a record of support for President Vladimir Putin, had been due to perform. The concert near Naples was scrapped last month following a storm of criticism, including from the widow of late Russian dissident Alexei Navalny who called Gergiev an "accomplice" of Putin. Italy's culture minister had said the event risked becoming a "sounding board for Russian propaganda". Moscow registered an initial protest on July 23, accusing Italy of discrimination, cancel culture and caving in to anti-Russian lobbying. On Thursday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said it had summoned the Italian chargé d'affaires two days ago to complain about an "ongoing anti-Russian campaign" in Italy that it said was aggravating a crisis in bilateral relations. The ministry said Italy had reacted disproportionately to what it called Moscow's rejection of "some odious statements by high-ranking representatives of the Italian government directed against Russia." It added, without providing examples, that Italian media had published false stories and carried out "Russophobic attacks with the full support of Italian ruling circles". The case highlights Russia's fury at the shunning by the West of some of its leading artists in the wake of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Liquor licences for F&B, nightlife venues extended to 4am in Boat Quay, Clarke Quay Singapore Chikungunya cases in Singapore double; authorities monitoring situation closely Singapore Student found with vape taken to hospital after behaving aggressively in school; HSA investigating Asia Cambodia, Thailand agree on Asean observers monitoring truce, but fundamental differences remain Asia Trump ratchets up tariff pressure on India, sparking despair among exporters and growth fears Singapore CDC and SG60 vouchers listed on e-commerce platforms will be taken down: CDCs Asia Australia's purchase of Japanese frigates signals a new era for Indo-Pacific security Singapore Some ageing condos in Singapore struggle with failing infrastructure, inadequate sinking funds Gergiev has conducted orchestras at the world's leading concert halls but found himself unwelcome in the West after the start of the war. Milan's La Scala, the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra and New York's Carnegie Hall were among those to sever ties with him over his failure to condemn it. He is now head of Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre and St. Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre. Gergiev has drawn strong criticism from opponents of Putin for performing over the years at events with political overtones, including in 2016 at a concert in the ruins of Palmyra in Syria after Russia intervened in Syria's civil war on the side of Syria's then-president, Bashar al-Assad. REUTERS
