A Russian missile strike on an apartment block in Pryluky, northern Ukraine, resulted in 22 fatalities, including five children, early on Wednesday. The attack destroyed 30 flats while families were sleeping. Among the deceased children were three one-year-olds, and one boy died alongside his mother and grandmother, according to officials. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the strike as one of Russia's 'most vile,' suggesting it was a 'birthday gift' for President Vladimir Putin, who turned 74 on the same day.
Moscow did not comment on the Pryluky attack but stated that its 'massive strike' targeted military industries in Kyiv and other locations. The overall death toll in Ukraine on Wednesday rose to 28, with additional casualties reported in Kyiv, Kremenchuk, and Oleksandriya. Damage assessments indicated that over 430 apartments and private homes were affected, and dozens were injured in Kremenchuk.
Rescue operations in Pryluky continued for hours as teams searched the rubble of the five-storey building. By late afternoon, rescuers had located the bodies of a fifth child and three others overnight. The regional head of Chernihiv reported that five cruise missiles hit the town, with one striking the apartment building.
Zelensky identified the one-year-old victims as Oleksandr, Kyrylo, and Serhii, and mentioned an eight-year-old boy named Maxsym among the deceased. Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi reported that a boy named Sasha died with his mother, Kateryna, and her mother, Viktoriia, while only Sasha's elder sister, Olha, survived. Local reports indicated that the family lived on the fifth floor, with Viktoriia caring for her grandson while Kateryna worked.
Zelensky stated that the Russians aimed to strike 'painfully and demonstratively,' noting that a total of 70 missiles were fired. He also mentioned that Ukraine had retaliated against targets in Russia's Perm, Samara, and Astrakhan regions within the last 24 hours, without providing further details.
In Kyiv, many residents sought refuge in underground stations during the attacks. Mayor Vitaly Klitschko reported that the capital was suffering from ongoing Russian assaults. Ukraine's national police shared images of an unexploded Russian Iskander missile in a Kyiv district, which BBC Verify confirmed as genuine.
The Ukrainian air force reported successfully shooting down five ballistic missiles, 39 cruise missiles, and over 100 drones, including 46 jet-powered drones from Russia. However, this suggests that as many as 26 missiles breached Ukraine's defenses, prompting Zelensky to call for increased air defense support from allies.
Zelensky indicated that one of the primary targets of the attacks was Ukraine's energy infrastructure, which Moscow had previously stated it would intensify strikes against following Ukraine's attacks on Russian energy facilities. In a separate statement, Zelensky reported that Ukraine had struck four targets in retaliatory actions, including two oil facilities and a training ground.
On Tuesday evening, footage showed smoke rising from an oil tanker off the coast of Sochi, with Russian authorities claiming unmanned boats attacked the Liberian-flagged Aframax Rio oil tanker. The crew was reportedly rescued.
Additionally, Bulgaria has ceased its search for the crew of a ship that sank after being struck by a drone, with Vice-Admiral Rumen Nikolov stating that it was assumed there were Syrians on board. The ship was last tracked in the Bulgarian exclusive economic zone of the Black Sea. Reports indicated that another vessel carrying grain was also hit, but its crew was rescued. Bulgaria has not attributed responsibility for the attacks, and Moscow has not commented on the incidents.
Russia has increased its strikes in the Black Sea region as part of its ongoing conflict with Ukraine. In an evening address, Zelensky claimed Russia was responsible for the recent attacks.