Bangla Press Desk: Russian forces launched drone and missile attacks across various areas, including the northern Ukrainian region of Chernihiv. At least 28 people were killed in these attacks, including five children.
Early Wednesday morning (October 7), the children lost their lives while asleep when a Russian missile struck an apartment block in the Pryluky district of the Chernihiv region.
The force of the powerful explosion shattered the apartment building's windows and reduced half of the five-story structure to a heap of charred concrete and twisted metal.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that among the victims, three were infants just 12 months old, and another was eight years old.
Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that the body of another child was recovered from the rubble in the evening.
A separate statement from the Ukrainian President's office confirmed that 20 people were killed in the attack on the Pryluky apartment building.
In addition to the fatalities, many people were injured.
President Zelenskyy noted that seven more children were among the injured. He accused Russia of deliberately targeting "ordinary civilian cities and civilian life."
Zelenskyy stated, "The continued use of missiles against Ukraine—against our people and children—is a calculated act of terror."
Olena Saiun, a 40-year-old Ukrainian massage therapist, told AFP, "We were sleeping at home. Suddenly, the explosion blew out our windows. Thank God we had shielded our young child with our own bodies. My husband suffered cuts on his back, and I was also injured."
She added that their child suffered severe psychological trauma—or a "nervous breakdown"—during the attack and was terrified. "We rushed to the bathroom, and we were there while everything in the apartment was being wrecked."
Local residents of Pryluky reported that Russian forces began striking the town around 6:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday, October 7. Earlier, on Tuesday, Zelenskyy had warned of a "massive" Russian attack, specifically noting that energy infrastructure would be targeted.
Notably, as winter approaches, the intensity of attacks on the capital has escalated, and air raid sirens are sounding almost incessantly.
Anxious residents are taking shelter in subway stations for the night, carrying bags, sleeping mats, and blankets.
Sitting on the platform in a dark-colored hoodie, surrounded by bags, bank official Iryna Rybalchenko told AFP, "We came here with our belongings."
She added, "The entire city of Kyiv is gripped by fear. Today, we were stranded at work, and everyone—from group chats to our bosses—was sending us messages to stay alert."
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that on Wednesday, Russian forces launched attacks using at least 50 missiles and 130 drones across various regions, including Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Poltava.
Describing this as one of the "heinous attacks" of the conflict—which has been ongoing for nearly five years—Zelenskyy stated that while some missiles and drones were shot down, ballistic missiles posed the "greatest challenge," making new air defense systems urgently necessary.
Yuliia Shamrai, a 31-year-old online marketing professional who lives near the damaged building in Pryluky, said, "I fail to understand what military objective Russia achieved through this attack." Source: AFP
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