Search and rescue operations concluded after a Russian missile attack on a five-story apartment building in Pryluky. Regrettably, the death toll rose to 22, with 5 children among the deceased, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced today. He was referring to the attack that occurred in the Chernihiv province city the day before.

President Zelensky added that the incident also injured 54 people, including 7 children. "Over 500 emergency personnel worked at the scene. I thank them all. Fifteen people were rescued since yesterday, including a five-year-old child," the Ukrainian President stated.

Search and rescue operations at the missile strike site in Pryluky, Ukraine, in a video posted on 8/10. Video: DSNS

Vyacheslav Chaus, head of Chernihiv province, reported that Pryluky was hit by 5 cruise missiles, one of which struck the apartment building. AMK Mapping, an X account monitoring open-source data on the conflict, identified the missile as a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile.

Russia's Ministry of Defense has not commented on the apartment building being hit in Pryluky. The agency stated on 7/10 that it carried out a coordinated attack using high-precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) targeting defense facilities in several Ukrainian provinces, including Kyiv and Chernihiv, as well as port infrastructure and ship repair facilities in Odesa.

Some Russian social media accounts suggested that the apartment building in Pryluky was damaged by a Ukrainian air defense missile that missed its target. However, Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation, part of the National Security and Defense Council, refuted this accusation.

Local residents and rescue forces clear debris at the missile-destroyed apartment building in Pryluky, Ukraine, on 7/10. Photo: AP

Ukraine's Air Force Command reported that Russia attacked the country with Zircon hypersonic or Oniks supersonic missiles, Iskander-M ballistic missiles, modified S-400 anti-aircraft missiles, 48 Kh-101, Iskander-K, and Kalibr cruise missiles, along with 130 various UAVs.

According to the agency, Ukrainian air defense shot down 5 Iskander-M missiles and S-400 rounds, in addition to 39 cruise missiles and 117 UAVs. Russian weapons struck 18 locations, with debris falling in 5 areas.

Across Ukraine, the total death toll from the 7/10 attack was 28. President Zelensky stated that one of Russia's "key objectives" in the attack was Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Moscow had previously announced it would intensify attacks on these targets in retaliation for Kyiv's strikes on energy facilities in Russia.

Pham Giang (According to BBC, UNN, TASS)