Prisoners have taken hostages at a remote high-security penal colony in the Volgograd region of Russia, according to official reports. Federal prison authorities confirmed that there are “casualties” resulting from the incident at the IK-19 Surovikino facility, located approximately 120 kilometers (74.5 miles) west of Volgograd.
State media indicated that at least one individual has been killed, while four others have been hospitalized due to injuries sustained during the hostage-taking. Emergency services confirmed that three inmates were involved in the situation, but the exact number of hostages remains unclear.
Authorities are actively preparing to rescue the hostages. Volgograd region Governor Andrei Bocharov reassured the public that the hostage crisis does not pose a threat to the civilian population. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has stated that President Vladimir Putin has been updated on the circumstances surrounding the incident.
This hostage-taking is the second of its kind in the summer season, following a similar incident in the neighboring Rostov region where six prisoners affiliated with the Islamic State captured two guards. In that case, five prisoners were killed, and one received a 20-year prison sentence related to the attack.
Prosecutors have launched an investigation into the current hostage-taking at IK-19 Surovikino, which is known to accommodate around 1,200 inmates.
