Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) confirmed that inmates at a prison in the Volgograd region have taken several staff members hostage following a violent attack. The incident occurred on August 23 during a session of a disciplinary commission at maximum-security penal colony No. 19 in the town of Surovikino.
Reports indicate that knife-wielding inmates launched an attack, resulting in multiple casualties. The FSIN has not specified the exact number of hostages or fatalities but stated that measures are being taken to resolve the situation.
Video footage circulated on Telegram, reportedly showing four inmates who identified themselves as “Islamic State fighters” standing beside the bodies of three deceased prison staff members and one injured person. The inmates are believed to be two men from Uzbekistan and two from Tajikistan, three of whom are serving sentences for drug-related offenses, and one for causing serious harm to another person. These details have not yet been officially confirmed.