Massive Russian strike on Ukraine kills at least 21 civilians

At least 21 civilians were killed and more than 60 injured in one of Russia's largest missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, which took place overnight into Wednesday. The Associated Press reported the figures, citing Ukrainian officials.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had warned on Tuesday, citing intelligence data, that a massive strike was being prepared for the 74th birthday of Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Heaviest toll in Pryluky

Zelensky said an ordinary five-storey apartment building was destroyed in Pryluky, in the Chernihiv region. Initially, five deaths and 26 injuries were reported, including five children, with people still trapped under the rubble. Chernihiv regional police later said the death toll had reached at least 15, including four children, while about 50 people were injured.

According to the president, residential buildings were hit and civilians killed in Kyiv and in 12 regions. Two people died in missile strikes on Kyiv, two in Oleksandriia in the Kirovohrad region, and another two in Kremenchuk in the Poltava region.

Energy targeted, call for air defence

Zelensky stressed that Ukraine's energy infrastructure was among the main targets. In total, 70 missiles were used, many of them ballistic, along with Shahed drones. Only some were shot down. The president acknowledged that ballistic missiles remain the biggest problem and said Ukraine urgently needs air defence systems. Every day, he said, efforts continue to find missiles for Patriot systems.

Ukraine's retaliatory strikes

Zelensky said that over the past day Ukraine's armed forces successfully hit four sites in Russia used to generate revenue and wage war against Ukraine: two oil facilities and a training range in the Perm, Samara and Astrakhan regions. In addition, Ukrainian naval drones struck a tanker of Russia's "shadow fleet" in the Black Sea near Sochi.