Russia's July 29th Attacks Kill Dozens Across Ukraine, Strike Prison and Hospital; Ukrainian Drones Hit Rostov Region
A wave of intense Russian missile and glide bomb attacks swept across Ukraine on July 29, 2025, resulting in significant civilian casualties and extensive damage to critical infrastructure, including a correctional facility and a medical complex. Simultaneously, Ukrainian drone assaults targeted Russia's Rostov region, causing one fatality.
Russian Attacks in Ukraine:
Rising Death Toll: Initial reports indicated at least 22 fatalities and nearly 90 injuries. However, subsequent updates from Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, raised the confirmed death toll to at least 27 civilians nationwide.
Prison Struck in Zaporizhzhia: Four powerful Russian glide bombs directly hit the Bilenke Correctional Colony No. 99 in Ukraine's southeastern Zaporizhzhia region. The overnight attack on July 28-29 tragically killed at least 16 inmates and wounded over 90 others. The prison's dining hall was completely destroyed, and significant damage was inflicted upon administrative and quarantine buildings. While the perimeter fence remained intact, no inmate escapes were reported. This incident eerily mirrored a similar explosion three years prior that killed over 50 people at the Olenivka detention facility in Russian-occupied Donetsk.
Medical Facilities Targeted in Dnipro: In the Dnipro region of central Ukraine, Russian missiles partially destroyed a three-story building and severely damaged nearby medical facilities, specifically a maternity hospital and a ward of a city hospital in Kamianske. This attack resulted in at least three deaths, including a 23-year-old pregnant woman. Five others sustained injuries, with two women, one of whom was pregnant, remaining in critical condition.
Widespread Destruction: President Zelenskyy confirmed that Russian strikes overnight impacted 73 cities, towns, and villages across Ukraine, unequivocally describing them as "conscious, deliberate strikes — not accidental."
Munitions and Air Defense: The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia launched two Iskander-M ballistic missiles along with 37 Shahed-type strike drones and decoys. Ukrainian air defense systems successfully intercepted or neutralized 32 of the Shahed drones.
Ukrainian Drone Attacks in Russia's Rostov Region:
Railway Junction Hit: Ukrainian drones targeted a fuel train at a major railway junction in the city of Salsk, Rostov region, in the early hours of July 29.
Single Fatality: One person was killed when their car caught fire near the station as a result of the attack.
Infrastructure Damage: The attack caused significant disruption to the overhead power line system at Salsk station, leading to a freight train catching fire and the suspension of all train traffic through the station. Russian Railways confirmed these disruptions.
Suspected Military Target: Images circulating online suggest that the primary target may have been a military echelon of the Russian occupation army en route toward the Ukrainian border.
Broader Drone Activity: The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that a total of 74 Ukrainian drones were shot down over various Russian regions overnight, with 22 specifically intercepted over the Rostov region. An additional fire was reported near the village of Orlovsky in Rostov Oblast, where a drone reportedly struck a traction substation vital for railway infrastructure.
