Three children lived for just one year: a Russian missile claimed nearly 20 lives in Pryluky

Search and rescue operations are ongoing at the site of a Russian missile strike on a residential building in Pryluky, in Chernihiv Oblast. At the time of the statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, 18 people had been killed, including 4 children. Another 55 people were injured, including 7 children.

The head of state named the four children who were killed. Three boys — Oleksandr, Kyrylo, and Serhii — were just 1 year old, while Maksym was 8 years old. The President expressed his condolences to the families and loved ones of all those killed and said that all emergency services were working at the scene.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy also provided an update on the rescue operation: 15 people had been rescued, including one child. Meanwhile, some people had not yet been able to be contacted.

“Debris is still being cleared at the site where a Russian missile struck a residential building in Pryluky. So far, 18 people are known to have been killed, four of them children: Oleksandr, Kyrylo, and Serhii, who were just one year old, and eight-year-old Maksym. My condolences to all their families and loved ones. Dozens of people have been injured, including seven children. All emergency services have been deployed and are working at the scene. Fifteen people have been rescued, including one child. Some people have not yet been able to be contacted.

The Russians know very well that they are striking ordinary cities and ordinary lives. Continuing to use missiles against Ukraine, against our people and our children, is a deliberate choice to terrorize. This is what Moscow chooses, despite all our efforts with our partners to bring peace closer. This is a clear reason why more pressure must be put on Russia and why Ukraine needs more defense packages. It is important that leaders understand this. It is important that the world does not remain silent today.”

According to the State Emergency Service, a Russian missile struck a five-story residential building, damaging its structural elements. Other residential buildings and civilian infrastructure were also damaged.

Important: after Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s statement, the death toll in Pryluky rose to 19. The number of injured remained at 55, while the number of children killed rose to 5. Search and rescue operations are ongoing.

The Russian strike on Pryluky was part of a massive attack on Ukraine on the morning of October 7, 2026. Russian forces used missiles and attack drones to strike, among other targets, residential areas and energy infrastructure.

The President of Ukraine called on international partners to increase pressure on Russia and boost defense assistance to Ukraine, stressing that the world must not leave Russian strikes on civilians unanswered.

We previously reported:

• Three children killed in a Russian drone attack in Mykolaiv Oblast
• Russian missile wiped a house off the map: parents and three children killed in Radushne
• Parents and three children killed in one house: Russia fires more than 70 missiles at Ukraine
• “Missile strike” on a residential area: Mykolaiv hit by an enemy missile attack — people killed and injured
• Russian strike in Kyiv Oblast kills three-year-old boy, his grandfather, and grandmother