Russian missile and drone strikes killed at least 25 people across Ukraine on October 7, including five children. The heaviest losses were in Pryluky in the northern Chernihiv region.

A Kh-101 cruise missile struck a five-storey apartment building directly, killing 22 people. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said five children died in the building. Three of the children were one year old. Rescue crews worked through the day to clear the rubble.

Zelenskyy called it one of the most vile strikes of the war. He noted it coincided with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 74th birthday. Deaths were also reported in Kyiv, Kremenchuk and Oleksandriia. Another 54 people were injured in Pryluky, including seven children.

Ukraine said Russia launched 70 missiles and scores of drones. Air defences shot down 44 missiles and suppressed 117 drones, but some weapons got through. Zelenskyy again urged partners to speed up air defence deliveries, especially interceptors for ballistic missiles. Zelenskyy visited the site on October 8 alongside UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband. Pryluky has declared three days of mourning.