Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that at least 18 people, including four children, were killed in a Russian missile strike on a residential building in Pryluky, in Ukraine’s Chernihiv region.
The updated casualty figures were announced as emergency workers continued searching through the wreckage of the building, with several residents still unaccounted for.
According to Zelenskyy, dozens of people were injured in the attack, including seven children, while rescue teams had successfully pulled 15 people from the rubble.
The Ukrainian president condemned the attack and renewed his appeal for stronger international pressure on Moscow and additional military assistance to protect Ukrainian civilians.
Three One-Year-Old Children and Eight-Year-Old Boy Among Victims
Zelenskyy identified the four children killed in the Pryluky attack as Oleksandr, Kyrylo and Serhiy, all aged just one year, and eight-year-old Maksym.
Their deaths were among the most distressing details disclosed as authorities continued assessing the consequences of the strike.
The president expressed condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed, emphasizing the human cost of attacks on residential areas.
He said the confirmed death toll could change as emergency teams continued searching for people who had not yet contacted relatives or authorities.
Fifteen People Rescued as Search Operations Continue
Emergency services remained at the scene of the damaged residential building, carrying out rescue and recovery operations.
Zelenskyy reported that 15 people had been rescued, including one child.
Dozens of injured residents were also receiving assistance, while emergency personnel worked to locate others who might still be trapped beneath the collapsed structure.
The president said all relevant emergency services had been mobilized and were working at the site.
Authorities had not established the final number of people missing when the update was issued.
Zelenskyy Accuses Moscow of Deliberately Targeting Civilian Life
In his statement, Zelenskyy accused Russia of knowingly launching missiles against populated areas where ordinary Ukrainians live.
He described the continued use of missiles against Ukrainian cities and residential buildings as a deliberate decision by Moscow.
The Ukrainian leader argued that such attacks were taking place despite diplomatic efforts by Ukraine and its international partners to achieve peace.
His remarks reflected Kyiv’s position that Russia should face greater consequences for military actions that result in civilian casualties.
The accusation of deliberate targeting was made by Zelenskyy; the supplied statements did not include an independent investigation establishing the intended target of the Pryluky strike.
Ukraine Calls for Stronger Sanctions and Additional Defense Support
Following the deadly attack, Zelenskyy urged international leaders to increase pressure on Russia and strengthen Ukraine’s defensive capabilities.
He said further defense assistance was necessary to reduce the threat posed by continued missile strikes.
The president also called on governments and influential international figures to respond more decisively to attacks affecting civilians.
Zelenskyy emphasized that diplomatic engagement alone had not prevented further casualties and argued that international support remained essential to protecting Ukrainian lives.
He appealed to world leaders not to remain silent in the face of the latest deaths.
Ukraine Commemorates Victims of October 7 Hamas Attack
While rescue operations continued in Pryluky and other Ukrainian cities, Zelenskyy also marked the anniversary of the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.
In a separate statement, the Ukrainian president extended condolences to families in Israel and other countries who lost loved ones during the attacks.
He noted that Ukrainian citizens were among the victims.
The commemoration came as Ukraine continued responding to the consequences of the latest Russian missile strikes, creating a parallel focus on civilian suffering in two separate conflicts.
Zelenskyy Recalls Nearly 1,200 Deaths in 2023 Attacks
Zelenskyy described the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault as an exceptionally grave attack against Jewish civilians.
He referred to the deaths of nearly 1,200 people and the taking of hostages, including children and other civilians.
The Ukrainian president condemned the treatment of hostages and called for those responsible for the attacks and abuses to be held accountable.
He also emphasized that Ukrainian nationals were among those affected, underscoring the international consequences of the violence.
Ukrainian President Links Both Conflicts Through Civilian Protection
In his anniversary message, Zelenskyy broadened his remarks beyond the Hamas-led attacks to condemn terrorism and wars of aggression more generally.
He argued that violence directed against civilians should neither be forgotten nor excused, regardless of where it occurs.
The president said the 21st century had already witnessed too many deaths and called for greater international commitment to peace, security and respect for human life.
His statements connected Ukraine’s experience of Russian military attacks with his condemnation of the October 7 violence in Israel, while addressing the two conflicts as separate events.
Zelenskyy Urges World Leaders to Defend Human Life
Zelenskyy concluded his anniversary remarks by calling on political leaders and other influential figures to take meaningful action to protect civilians.
He argued that international institutions and governments had a responsibility to respond when lives were threatened by terrorism or military aggression.
The Ukrainian leader maintained that collective international action could overcome such threats and emphasized the importance of defending human dignity and security.
His appeal came as Ukrainian rescue teams continued working at the Pryluky strike site, where the deaths of 18 people, including four children, had been confirmed.
Pryluky Rescue Efforts Continue Amid International Appeals
The latest developments left Ukrainian authorities managing the immediate consequences of the missile strike while the government continued pressing international partners for additional support.
With 15 people rescued, dozens injured and others still unaccounted for, the situation in Pryluky remained unresolved at the time of Zelenskyy’s update.
The president’s statements combined a call for accountability over attacks on Ukrainian civilians with a separate message of solidarity for victims of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault.
Both messages emphasized civilian protection, international responsibility and the need to prevent further loss of life.
The Pryluky casualty figures and circumstances described in this report are based on Zelenskyy’s statements and had not been independently verified in the material provided.
