Four Inmates Shot Dead in Russian Prison Siege

On Friday, Russian security forces killed four inmates who had taken hostages at IK-19 Surovikino prison in the Volgograd region, following a violent incident where the prisoners fatally stabbed four prison staff. The attackers, claiming allegiance to the Islamic State, had reportedly taken eight staff and four inmates hostage and demanded a helicopter, $2 million, and safe passage out of Russia. The operation to neutralize the attackers was initiated after President Vladimir Putin sought updates from security officials during a council meeting. Videos released by the assailants showed the gruesome aftermath of the stabbings, including graphic images of the victims. The incident has raised serious concerns regarding prison security amidst an uptick in Islamist violence in Russia, which has been compounded by ongoing security concerns related to the conflict in Ukraine. Russian authorities are investigating how the inmates obtained weapons and recorded the hostage situation.