Ukraine accuses Russia of striking apartment block as Putin birthday ‘gift’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of deliberately killing civilians after overnight missile and drone strikes across 11 regions. Officials said at least 24 people were killed.

In Pryluky, Chernihiv region, a ballistic missile hit a five-storey apartment block. The building collapsed, killing 18 people, including four children; about 50 people were injured and several residents remained unaccounted for.

Zelenskyy said the strike came on Vladimir Putin’s birthday and described it as a “gift” from Russia’s army. He also acknowledged that Ukraine was struggling to intercept ballistic missiles and appealed to allies for US-made Patriot interceptors.

Scale of the overnight attack

Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 70 ballistic missiles and 46 jet-powered drones. Ukrainian forces reported intercepting more than 80% of the drones, compared with an earlier average of 50% to 60%.

Two people were killed in Kyiv. Four more civilians died in strikes on Kremenchuk and Oleksandriia, while a blast wave damaged 16 buildings in Dnipro.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called the attacks war crimes and said they would not force Ukrainians to surrender. Zelenskyy also reported Ukrainian strikes on economic and military sites in Russia’s Perm, Samara and Astrakhan regions.

Black Sea shipping targeted

Russian officials said naval drones struck a Liberia-flagged tanker near Sochi. They said the vessel’s 23 Indian crew members were rescued and crude oil was burning on board.

A civilian cargo ship sank in the Black Sea this week after a suspected Russian drone attack, with its crew still missing. A second grain vessel was hit in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone, and the search for the first ship’s sailors was later suspended.