A deadly hostage crisis unfolded at a maximum-security prison in Russia’s Volgograd region, leaving one person dead and several injured. The chaos erupted when three inmates seized control of the IK-19 Surovikino facility, taking an unknown number of hostages.
According to authorities, the situation turned violent, resulting in casualties. State news agency Tass reported one fatality and four people hospitalized with injuries. Disturbing images surfaced on social media, showing an inmate wielding a knife over a bloodied guard.
Meanwhile, a separate video appeared to depict another inmate brandishing a knife in the prison courtyard. Emergency services confirmed three prisoners were involved in the hostage-taking, but the exact number of hostages remained unclear.
As the situation unfolded, authorities prepared to liberate the hostages. Volgograd region Governor Andrei Bocharov reassured the public that the incident posed no threat to civilians. President Vladimir Putin was briefed on the crisis, and prosecutors swiftly opened a case related to the hostage-taking.
This incident marks the second such event this summer, following a similar hostage situation in the neighboring Rostov region. In that case, six prisoners affiliated with the Islamic State group captured two guards, leading to the deaths of five prisoners and a 20-year prison sentence for the sixth.
The IK-19 Surovikino facility, a high-security penal colony, houses approximately 1,200 inmates. The motive behind the hostage-taking remains unclear, but authorities are working to resolve the situation and ensure the safety of all involved.
