On August 23, 2024, a violent hostage situation unfolded at Correctional Colony No. 19 in the Surovikinsky district of Russia’s Volgograd region. During a disciplinary committee meeting, several inmates armed with knives seized control of the facility, taking multiple staff members hostage.The Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) has confirmed that at least one prison employee has been killed, with reports from various sources suggesting up to three fatalities and seven injuries. The colony’s director, Andrei Devyatov, is reportedly in intensive care, though it’s unclear if he’s among the hostages.The attackers, numbering between three and four, claim affiliation with the Islamic State (IS), a terrorist organization banned in Russia. They are demanding $2 million and a helicopter for safe passage. Some sources report that the inmates have released a graphic video showing injured employees and declaring their allegiance to IS.In response to the crisis, a special forces unit has been deployed to the colony, which houses 1,230 inmates. The FSIN press service stated, ‘Currently, measures are being taken to free the hostages’. A criminal case has been opened in connection with the incident.This hostage situation bears similarities to an event on June 16, 2024, when inmates took hostages at an Investigation Isolation Center in Rostov-on-Don. These incidents have raised serious concerns about the security measures in place within the Russian prison system.
Key points
- Inmates at Correctional Colony No.
- At least one prison employee has been killed, with reports of up to three fatalities and seven injuries.
- The attackers claim affiliation with the Islamic State and are demanding $2 million and a helicopter.
- This incident follows a similar hostage situation in Rostov-on-Don in June, raising concerns about Russian prison security.
19 in Volgograd, Russia, have taken multiple staff members hostage.
Contradictions👾There are conflicting reports about the number of casualties, with some sources reporting one death, while others suggest up to three fatalities.
👾The exact number of hostage-takers is unclear, with reports ranging from three to four inmates.
