Russian strikes kill 12 in Ukraine on Putin birthday

Russian missile and drone strikes killed at least 12 people across Ukraine on Wednesday, according to Euronews and France 24. Three children were among those killed in the attacks, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described as a massive strike. [1][3]

Euronews reported that nine people, including three children, died and 34 were wounded when a Russian missile hit an apartment building in Pryluky, located in the Chernihiv region. Zelensky called the attack on the residential block a birthday gift for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who turned 74 on Wednesday. Residents in Kyiv were forced to shelter in subway stations overnight. [1]

France 24 reported that Russian forces have stepped up strikes in recent weeks, specifically targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure as well as road and rail transport networks. Zelensky also renewed his urgent call for additional air defence systems to protect Ukrainian cities. [1][3]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, overnight strikes in Kyiv caused a major fire in the Darnytskyi neighbourhood, killing at least two people in the capital. Russia's Ministry of Defence claimed it launched widespread attacks across Ukrainian regions while intercepting nearly 900 Ukrainian drones overnight. [11][12]