Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced the completion of search-and-rescue operations at a five-storey residential building in Pryluky following a Russian missile strike, confirming that 22 people were killed, including five children.
The Ukrainian leader said another 54 people sustained injuries, seven of whom were children, as emergency workers concluded their efforts to locate survivors beneath the damaged building.
More than 500 emergency service personnel participated in the operation, which resulted in the rescue of 15 people, including a five-year-old child.
Zelenskyy expressed condolences to the families of those killed and praised emergency responders for their efforts during the rescue operation.
The revised casualty figures highlight the scale of the destruction caused by the missile strike, which was among several attacks reported across Ukraine.
Russian Airstrike on Kramatorsk Bus Stop Leaves 12 Dead
While emergency teams were completing their work in Pryluky, Ukrainian authorities reported further Russian attacks targeting locations in different parts of the country.
According to Zelenskyy, a Russian aerial bomb struck a public transport stop in Kramatorsk, killing at least 12 people.
The president described the location as an ordinary civilian transport stop, raising renewed concerns about the vulnerability of public spaces during the continuing conflict.
Separately, an evening strike on a residential building in Kyiv reportedly killed two people and injured four others, including two children.
Zelenskyy extended his condolences to the victims’ families as Ukrainian authorities continued assessing the consequences of the attacks.
Drone Strikes Damage Animal Shelter and Energy Facilities in Odesa Region
The latest wave of attacks also affected infrastructure and civilian facilities beyond Ukraine’s major urban centres.
In Odesa Oblast, a Russian drone strike damaged an animal shelter, according to the Ukrainian president.
Energy infrastructure was also targeted during the broader series of attacks, adding to concerns about the security of electricity supplies and essential services.
Zelenskyy reported that Russian strikes had caused destruction across 10 Ukrainian regions.
The reported incidents demonstrate the geographical spread of the attacks, with residential buildings, transport facilities and energy installations among the affected locations.
Zelenskyy Says Earlier Large-Scale Russian Assault Killed 25 People
In a separate statement, Zelenskyy provided details of an earlier large-scale Russian aerial assault, reporting that 25 people had been killed and approximately 100 others injured.
He described the operation as a combined attack involving ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and Iranian-designed Shahed-type attack drones.
The Ukrainian president linked the timing of the assault to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s birthday, accusing Moscow of carrying out deadly strikes against Ukraine during the occasion.
The casualty figures from the separate presidential statements refer to different reported updates and should not automatically be combined into a single overall death toll.
Ukraine Reports Interception of 44 Russian Missiles and 117 Drones
Zelenskyy also released figures concerning Ukraine’s air defense response to the large-scale Russian assault.
According to the president, Ukrainian forces intercepted 44 incoming missiles, including both cruise and ballistic missiles.
He acknowledged that the country’s defenses had been unable to stop every missile launched during the operation, identifying ballistic weapons as particularly challenging to intercept.
Ukrainian forces also reportedly neutralised 117 Shahed-type drones through defensive measures, although some incoming aircraft were not successfully stopped.
The figures were presented by the Ukrainian government and were not independently verified in the statements.
The president said the attacks demonstrated the continuing need to maintain sufficient stocks of air defense ammunition, particularly as Russian forces continue launching aerial weapons against Ukrainian territory.
Kyiv Calls for Additional Anti-Ballistic Systems and Fighter Aircraft Ammunition
Following the attacks, Zelenskyy renewed his appeal to Ukraine’s international partners to provide additional military assistance.
He welcomed statements of support from foreign governments but argued that diplomatic condemnation must be accompanied by practical defense commitments.
Ukraine’s immediate priorities, according to the president, include additional anti-ballistic missile capabilities, ammunition for combat aircraft and greater investment in systems capable of intercepting incoming aerial threats.
He emphasised that these resources play an important role in protecting civilian populations and reducing the damage caused by Russian strikes.
Zelenskyy also called for faster deliveries of air defense missiles, warning that Ukrainian defensive batteries must remain operational and adequately supplied as attacks continue.
Ukraine Expects Concrete Results From Upcoming Talks With International Partners
The Ukrainian president confirmed that further discussions with international partners were scheduled over the following two days, with strengthening the country’s defense capabilities expected to feature prominently.
He expressed hope that the negotiations would produce new assistance packages and accelerate the delivery of urgently needed military equipment.
Zelenskyy maintained that international support would be more effective if political commitments translated into timely shipments of defensive weapons and investment in interception technology.
His remarks come as Ukraine continues seeking additional military resources to counter Russian missile and drone attacks while maintaining its existing defensive operations.
Civilian Casualties Intensify Pressure for Stronger Air Defenses
The reported deaths in Pryluky, Kramatorsk and Kyiv have placed renewed attention on the human consequences of the continuing aerial campaign against Ukraine.
The attacks described by Zelenskyy affected residential buildings, public transportation facilities, energy infrastructure and an animal shelter, illustrating the range of civilian locations exposed to the conflict.
Although Ukrainian air defense forces reported intercepting dozens of missiles and more than 100 drones during the earlier assault, the president acknowledged that existing defensive capabilities had not prevented all incoming weapons from reaching their targets.
For Kyiv, the immediate diplomatic objective remains securing additional air defense equipment and ammunition from international partners.
The outcome of the upcoming discussions could influence Ukraine’s ability to strengthen protection for its cities and critical infrastructure as the war continues.
