Russia fired 70 missiles and dozens of Shahed drones at Ukraine overnight, killing at least 28 people and injuring 100, Ukrainian officials said. The heaviest toll was in Pryluky in the northern Chernihiv region, where a missile destroyed a five-storey apartment block, killing 20 people including five children. President Zelenskyy said the barrage coincided with Vladimir Putin’s birthday and called it one of the war’s most vile strikes; Russia’s defence ministry said the targets were military-industrial facilities in Kyiv and other regions.
Russian missile barrage kills 28 across Ukraine
Russia fired 70 missiles and dozens of drones at Ukraine overnight, killing at least 28 people, as President Zelenskyy called the attack one of the war's most vile strikes.
Why it matters: The mass strike, timed to Vladimir Putin's birthday, keeps the pressure on Ukraine's air defences and civilian infrastructure as Kyiv hunts for more Patriot systems.
Data as of October 8, 2026. Casualty figures from Ukraine's Interior Ministry and regional governors via a single Reuters wire (republished by Daily Maverick); Russia's defence ministry claims the targets were military-industrial facilities. Awaiting a second independent outlet for corroboration.
Sources
- At least 28 killed in Ukraine, Zelenskyy condemns one of Russia's most 'vile strikes' · Daily Maverick (Reuters wire) · 2026-10-08