Inmates Seize Control of Prison in Southern Russia
In a shocking turn of events, inmates at the IK-19 Surovikino penal colony in southern Russia’s Volgograd region have staged an uprising, taking several staff members hostage. The incident resulted in injuries to multiple prison employees, with one reported fatality.
Video footage circulating online show the inmates standing over bloodied prison guards, highlighting the severity of the situation. The maximum-security penal colony, housing over 1,200 prisoners, became the epicenter of chaos as three inmates took hostages during a disciplinary committee meeting.
Russia’s Investigative Committee has launched a criminal case against the perpetrators, signaling a potential life sentence as punishment. President Vladimir Putin acknowledged the hostage situation, noting its resemblance to a previous incident in a neighboring region where prisoners affiliated with the Islamic State were involved.
Amidst speculations linking the current uprising to the terrorist group, the developing story continues to unfold, posing challenges for the authorities and drawing attention to the precarious state of prison security in Russia.