A Russian drone assault on the northern Ukrainian town of Pryluky in the Chernihiv region has left five people dead, including three members of a single family, according to Ukrainian officials.
Ukraine’s Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported that the victims included the wife, daughter, and infant grandson of a local emergency worker. The attack occurred overnight when Russia launched six drones at the town.
Regional Governor Viacheslav Chaus confirmed that five people were killed in the strike, and six others were hospitalized due to injuries sustained during the attack.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strike, accusing Moscow of exploiting global inaction to prolong its aggression. “Every time there’s a lack of strong international pressure and condemnation, Russia strikes again,” he said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He called for increased sanctions and greater international efforts, urging nations like the United States and those in Europe to take decisive action.
Elsewhere in Ukraine, in the city of Kharkiv, 18 individuals were injured—among them four children—following another Russian drone strike, according to Klymenko.
Local resident Anastasiia Meleshchenk recounted how the drone hit her neighbor’s apartment. “Just yesterday, workers had finished repairing my place after the last attack,” she told Reuters, adding that she escaped with her child in time.
Russia has yet to comment on the recent attacks.
In a separate incident, two individuals died following an attack on a Ukrainian military training facility in the Poltava region, authorities said Thursday. Despite efforts by medical personnel, the victims could not be saved, reported Volodymyr Kohut, a senior regional official, via Telegram.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s military claimed to have targeted Russian missile systems in the Bryansk region. According to Ukrainian forces, the systems were preparing for a strike against Ukraine.
Russia Vows to Respond
These incidents follow a major Ukrainian operation targeting four Russian military airfields in Siberia and the Arctic region. The offensive, reportedly named “Spider’s Web,” involved 117 drones launched from containers situated near the targets.
In response, Russia accused Ukraine of sabotaging rail bridges in its southern territories, an act Moscow claims resulted in seven fatalities. The Kremlin has pledged retaliation for the recent Ukrainian operations.
Source: AL JAZEERA
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