In a shocking turn of events, a remote Russian penal colony, IK-19 Surovikino, was the scene of a deadly revolt by prisoners claiming to be Islamic State (IS) militants. The incident resulted in the deaths of four prison employees after the attackers took hostages within the facility.
The chaos unfolded during a disciplinary commission meeting, where the attackers reportedly slashed guards and wounded several prison staff. The Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) confirmed that eight prison employees and four convicts were taken hostage, with reports suggesting that even the prison’s director and deputy director were among those seized.
Special forces were deployed to the scene to rescue the hostages and neutralize the attackers. The operation resulted in the deaths of four attackers, who were shot by snipers during the rescue mission. Despite the violence, authorities assured the public that the situation was contained within one room of the prison and posed no threat to the civilian population.
The attackers, identified as individuals from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, released a video claiming allegiance to IS and citing their motivation as avenging the persecution of Muslims. The disturbing footage showed the attackers roaming the prison courtyard and officials lying in pools of blood.
This incident marks the second hostage-taking in a Russian prison this summer, following a similar event in the neighboring Rostov region. Prosecutors have opened a case related to the hostage-taking at IK-19 Surovikino, a high-security facility housing approximately 1,200 inmates.
President Vladimir Putin was briefed on the situation and security measures taken during a virtual meeting with officials. The tragic events at IK-19 Surovikino serve as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by authorities in maintaining order within the penal system.
