Ukraine: At least 15 dead after large-scale Russian strikes

Covered by New York Post, U.S. News & World Report and 10 more since

  • Ukraine
  • Russia
  • Volodymyr Zelenskyy
  • Kyiv
  • Vladimir Putin
  • Pryluky
  • Kyiv
  • Kremenchuk
A candle and sunflowers on a stone ledge before apartment blocks at dawn in a Ukrainian city.

What happened

Russia fired about 70 missiles, many of them ballistic, along with drones at Kyiv and a dozen other Ukrainian regions on Oct. 7, Vladimir Putin's 74th birthday. A missile hit an apartment building in Pryluky, where Ukraine's State Emergency Service says 22 people died, including five children. Ukrainian officials put the nationwide toll at 25 or more.

Summary

The worst damage was in Pryluky, a town in the Chernihiv region about 150 kilometers (93 miles) east of Kyiv. A missile struck a five-story apartment building early in the morning, while people were still asleep, regional head Viacheslav Chaus said. President Volodymyr Zelensky said a cruise missile hit the building directly. The death toll climbed through the day. By Thursday, Ukraine's State Emergency Service counted 22 dead, five of them children, and 54 injured, including seven children. Zelensky said three of the children killed were 1 year old and another was 8. Rescuers digging through the collapsed sections brought 15 people out alive. [1] [4] [5] [8] [10]

The strike was part of a much larger overnight attack. Zelensky said Russia fired 70 missiles, many of them ballistic, plus Shahed drones, and that only some were shot down. People were also killed in Kyiv, Kremenchuk and Oleksandriia, and buildings were damaged in Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia. Late Wednesday, Russian drones hit two residential areas of Kyiv, killing four more people, police said. Earlier counts from Ukrainian officials put the nationwide toll at 25 or more, with about 100 injured. Many Kyiv residents spent the night in deep metro stations. Ukraine began emergency power cuts in five regions and in Kyiv, and Poland sent up military jets during the attack. [1] [3] [5] [6] [10] [12]

Russia's defense ministry said it carried out a "massive strike" on military-industrial sites, including places where the Ukrainian company Fire Point makes and stores Flamingo cruise missiles. Antiwar.com reports that Russia said the Pryluky strike was aimed at an industrial enterprise. Zelensky called the attack Putin's birthday "gift" and said ballistic missiles remain Ukraine's biggest problem. He said his team looks every day for Patriot systems, the only Ukrainian weapon able to stop those missiles. Ukraine said it hit two oil facilities and a training ground inside Russia. Zelensky warned that Russian attacks will likely increase as winter nears. [1] [4] [7] [8] [12]

Summary written by Vox Populi News from the 12 sources below. See all sources

Key questions

How many people died in the Russian strike on Pryluky?

Ukraine's State Emergency Service said on Thursday that 22 people were killed, including five children, and 54 were injured. Earlier counts were lower, and the toll rose as rescuers searched the rubble. [1] [8] [12]

What did Russia say it was targeting?

Russia's defense ministry said it struck military-industrial sites in Kyiv and several regions, including sites where Fire Point builds and stores its Flamingo cruise missiles. Antiwar.com reports that Russia said the Pryluky strike targeted an industrial enterprise. [4] [8] [12]

Did the attack cause power outages in Ukraine?

Yes. Ukraine's energy ministry began partial emergency power cuts in five regions. DTEK said the grid operator Ukrenergo also ordered emergency outages in Kyiv, separate from the regular rolling outages. [1] [4] [6]

Sources 12

  1. 1New York Post

    Ukraine death toll hits 22 as rescuers pull bodies from rubble after Russian strike

    Rescuers searched through the rubble of a residential building hit by a Russian missile in the northern Ukrainian town of Pryluky on Thursday as the death toll rose to 22, including five children…

    Read on New York Post (opens in a new tab)
  2. 2U.S. News & World Report

    Russian Missile Strike in Ukraine's Capital Kills at Least 2

    KYIV, Ukraine (AP) -- Russian attacked Ukraine's capital with ballistic missiles overnight Wednesday, killing two people and damaging civilian infrastructure, according to Ukrainian officials.

    Associated Press

    Read on U.S. News & World Report (opens in a new tab)
  3. 3UPI

    At least 20 dead in Russian strikes in Ukraine

    Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Russian strikes on central and eastern Ukraine killed at least 20 people overnight in what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called "one of the most vile strikes" on Wednesday.

    Joe Fisher

    Read on UPI (opens in a new tab)
  4. 4Honolulu Star Advertiser

    Russia hits Ukraine with drones and missiles, killing at least 15 | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

    KYIV, Ukraine >> Russia pounded Ukraine with waves of missiles and dronestoday, killing at least 15 people and hitting residential buildings, industrial facilities and infrastructure, Ukrainian…

    Reuters

    Read on Honolulu Star Advertiser (opens in a new tab)
  5. 5Euromaidan Press

    Five dead in Pryluky, two each in Kyiv, Kremenchuk, and Oleksandriia: Russia's night of 70 missiles

    Russia attacked Kyiv and 12 oblasts overnight on 7 October with about 70 missiles, many of them ballistic, as well as Shahed drones, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

    Yuri Zoria

    Read on Euromaidan Press (opens in a new tab)
  6. 6Yahoo

    Russia hits Ukraine with drones and missiles, killing at least 15

    By Olena Harmash and Vladyslav Smilianets KYIV, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Russia pounded Ukraine with waves of missiles and drones on Wednesday, killing at least 15 people and hitting residential buildings…

    Read on Yahoo (opens in a new tab)
  7. 7Yahoo News UK

    Russia launches heavy strikes at Ukraine, killing at least 20

    By Olena Harmash and Vladyslav Smilianets KYIV, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Russia pounded Ukraine with waves of missiles and drones in one of its most "vile strikes" on Wednesday, President Volodymyr…

    Read on Yahoo News UK (opens in a new tab)
  8. 8Yahoo

    At least 24 killed in Ukraine, Zelenskiy condemns one of Russia's most 'vile strikes'

    By Olena Harmash and Vladyslav Smilianets KYIV, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Russia pounded Ukraine with waves of missiles and drones in one of its most "vile strikes" on Wednesday, President Volodymyr…

    Read on Yahoo (opens in a new tab)
  9. 9GV Wire

    At Least 24 Killed in Ukraine, Zelenskiy Condemns One of Russia's Most 'Vile Strikes'

    Russia pounded Ukraine with waves of missiles and drones in one of its most "vile strikes" on Wednesday, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, killing at least 24 people, including children, and…

    Reuters

    Read on GV Wire (opens in a new tab)
  10. 10Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer

    Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities kill at least 25 in a major attack that Kyiv saw coming

    Russian missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian regions overnight killed at least 25 civilians, including five children, and injured about 100 KYIV, Ukraine -- Russian missile and drone…

    Samya Kullab

    Read on Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer (opens in a new tab)
  11. 11Global Banking & Finance Review

    Russia Launches Heavy Missile Strikes on Ukraine, At Least 20 Killed

    Russia Hits Ukraine With Heavy Missile Strikes; Casualties and Energy Damage Reported Overview of the Missile Strikes and Their Impact By Olena Harmash and Vladyslav Smilianets KYIV, Oct 7 (Reuters)…

    Barnali Pal Sinha, Reuters

    Read on Global Banking & Finance Review (opens in a new tab)
  12. 12News From Antiwar.com

    'Massive' Russian Attack on Ukraine Kills at Least 25

    The strikes came a day after Ukraine launched nearly 900 drones into Russia At least 25 civilians were killed during a major Russian bombardment across Ukraine on Wednesday, according to Ukrainian…

    Read on News From Antiwar.com (opens in a new tab)