Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities kill at least 15 in a major attack
that Kyiv saw coming
[October 07, 2026]
By SAMYA KULLAB and HANNA ARHIROVA
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian missiles and drones pounded Kyiv and a
dozen other Ukrainian regions overnight into Wednesday, killing at least
12 civilians, including three children, and wounding more than 40 in
Moscow's latest devastating barrage, Ukrainian officials said.
Ukraine had anticipated the attack, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
warning the previous day that intelligence services had concluded that
Russia was building up for a “massive” strike.
Although Ukraine knew about the looming attack, which coincided with
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 74th birthday, it couldn’t fend it
off completely.
The deaths and damage illustrated the difficulty Ukraine has in
countering Russia’s ballistic missiles and the new jet-powered drones
used in Moscow’s escalating bombardments. Without ammunition for its
U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems, Ukraine can’t stop Russian
ballistic weapons. It is racing to develop a new generation of
interceptors fast enough to catch Moscow's high-flying jet-propelled
drones.
Russia and Ukraine are engaged in a long-range aerial war as their
armies remain largely deadlocked on the battlefield, more than 4 ½ years
after Moscow’s all-out invasion of its neighbor. The unrelenting aerial
attacks are hurting Russia but could be ruinous for smaller Ukraine.
U.S.-led peace efforts appear unlikely to bring any short-term relief,
with the possibility of holding low-level technical talks still under
discussion. Putin, meanwhile, is pressing ahead with the invasion in the
belief that Ukrainians will buckle under the pressure and Kyiv’s Western
supporters won’t stay the course, Western analysts say.
Russia wants Ukrainians to be afraid to fall asleep, official says
A Russian strike destroyed an apartment block in Pryluky, in Ukraine’s
northern Chernihiv region, killing nine people, including three
children, and wounding 34, Interior Minister Ihor Vyhivskyi said.
Deaths were also reported in three other Ukrainian cities, including the
capital Kyiv, according to Zelenskyy.
“The Russians wanted to strike painfully and demonstratively,” the
Ukrainian leader said on social media.
Ukraine is looking worldwide for available Patriot missiles, which are
in short supply due to the Iran war.
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In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, rescuers
work on the scene of a building destroyed following recent Russian
attacks in Pryluky, Chernihiv region, Ukraine, Wednesday, Oct. 7,
2026. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP )
“Russian ballistic missiles remain the greatest challenge. And air
defense packages for us right now are a vital necessity,” Zelenskyy
said.
In Kremenchuk, in the Poltava region, two people were killed and
seven injured, said Vitalii Diakivnych, head of the regional
military administration, and a rescue operation was continuing.
“That is exactly what the enemy is counting on. For us to be afraid
to fall asleep. To let our children out of our sight. To plan
anything. So that everyone thinks: next time it could be my
address,” he said.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said the military carried out a massive
strike overnight targeting industrial facilities involved in the
production and storage of missiles and drones across Ukraine. The
ministry said that port and ship repair facilities in the southern
Odesa region and ships carrying cargo for the Ukrainian military
were also hit.
Ukraine strikes back with attacks on Russian oil facilities,
Zelenskyy says
Ukraine has hit back at Russia by launching long-range drones and
missiles on oil refineries and storage depots.
Zelenskyy said Wednesday that Ukraine targeted two oil facilities
and a training ground in the Perm, Samara, and Astrakhan regions of
Russia.
Russian officials made no immediate comment.
Zelenskyy also indicated that Ukraine had struck in the Black Sea.
He posted images of a fire said to show an oil tanker burning in the
water near the Russian city of Sochi.
It was not possible to independently verify the images.
Some Russian online media late Tuesday also posted the images.
Unconfirmed media reports said it was carrying oil from Novorossiysk
to India and was attacked by Ukrainian sea drones.
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