‘War Is His Nature’: Zelensky Says Putin’s Birthday ‘Gift’ Killed 25 Ukrainians

What happened in Ukraine during the overnight attack, and which cities were hit?

Russia carried out a large overnight attack using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and Shahed drones. The barrage struck several Ukrainian cities and damaged homes, apartment buildings, and civilian infrastructure. Its scale caused mass casualties and widespread destruction.

Pryluky suffered the heaviest reported loss of life after a Kh-101 cruise missile hit a five-story apartment building. Kyiv came under several waves of ballistic missile strikes, beginning shortly after 3 a.m. Kremenchuk was hit by missiles and drones, damaging apartments and private homes.

The article reports that Russia continued attacks during the day with drones and aerial bombs. Rescue crews searched collapsed buildings and cleared rubble. The strikes show how quickly one overnight operation can affect multiple cities and why air defenses, emergency response, and international support remain urgent issues for Ukraine.

How many people were killed or injured, and how many of the deaths occurred in Pryluky?

The overnight barrage caused a large number of civilian casualties. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said at least 25 people died and more than 100 were injured across Ukraine. These figures describe the immediate reported toll, which can change as rescue teams search damaged buildings and verify information.

Pryluky had the deadliest single incident. A Kh-101 cruise missile struck a five-story apartment building there. Zelensky said 19 people were killed, including five children. Later, Chernihiv Regional State Administration Head Viacheslav Chaus put the death toll at 20. The difference reflects continuing updates after the building collapsed.

Kyiv reported two deaths, while Kremenchuk reported two deaths and seven injuries. The numbers show that the destruction was spread across several cities, not confined to one location. The presence of children among the dead also highlights the severe civilian cost of strikes on residential areas.

What are ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and Shahed drones, and how do they attack targets differently?

Ballistic missiles are launched along a powerful arc and travel at very high speeds, especially during their descending flight. Cruise missiles usually fly within the atmosphere, using engines and guidance systems to steer toward a target. Shahed drones are relatively slower, unmanned aircraft designed to carry explosives and strike targets after remote or programmed guidance.

These weapons attack differently. A ballistic missile may arrive quickly from above, leaving defenders little reaction time. A cruise missile can adjust its route and fly around obstacles or terrain. A Shahed drone can approach at low altitude, remain difficult to detect, and be used in large numbers. Exact performance varies by model and mission.

The article says Russia combined all three weapon types in one overnight barrage. That mix can complicate air defense because systems must detect and respond to different speeds, flight paths, and sizes. The source does not identify the specific Shahed models or detailed interception results.

Why has Russia been attacking Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure during its war against Ukraine?

Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian cities matter because urban strikes can kill civilians, damage essential services, and create fear far from the battlefield. The article presents Zelensky’s view that Moscow is choosing escalation despite efforts to bring peace closer. It does not provide an independent explanation of every Russian decision or prove a single motive.

The reported examples show the pattern clearly. Missiles and drones struck apartment buildings, private homes, and other civilian infrastructure in Pryluky, Kyiv, and Kremenchuk. A residential building collapsed in Pryluky, killing many people, including children. Such attacks can also disrupt housing, transport, electricity, medical care, and other daily needs.

More broadly, attacking cities may be intended to pressure governments and populations, weaken national resilience, or damage services that support military operations. Those purposes cannot be assumed for every strike. The article says Russia continued attacks during the day, suggesting the immediate reality was sustained pressure rather than a single isolated incident.

What happens to civilians and cities when missiles strike apartment buildings and other civilian infrastructure?

When a missile hits an apartment building, the immediate danger includes explosions, fires, collapsing floors, flying debris, and people trapped under rubble. Survivors may suffer serious injuries or lose relatives. They can also lose their homes, possessions, and sense of safety. Children and older people may be especially vulnerable during evacuation and rescue.

The Pryluky strike illustrates these effects. A Kh-101 missile hit a five-story residential building, collapsing a large section. Rescuers searched the rubble for survivors and continued clearing the destroyed structure throughout the day. Zelensky reported 19 deaths there, including five children, while a regional official later reported 20.

Strikes on homes and civilian infrastructure can produce longer-term harm. Damaged buildings may require demolition or rebuilding. Residents may need temporary shelter, medical care, and psychological support. If utilities or transport are affected, daily life and emergency response become harder. The article shows that the consequences continue well after the missile itself has struck.

How are sanctions, oil sales, and international financial transactions supposed to pressure Russia to stop the war?

Sanctions pressure a government by limiting the resources and relationships it can use. Restrictions can target banks, companies, exports, imports, technology, and individuals. Freezing assets and blocking financial channels can make payments, investment, and military procurement harder. The goal is to change the government’s cost calculation without sending another country’s troops into direct combat.

Oil sales matter because energy exports can provide major revenue. International financial transactions matter because governments and companies need banking systems to receive money, pay suppliers, and trade across borders. If Russia can continue selling oil and accessing payment networks, it may retain funds and economic connections that reduce sanctions’ impact.

Zelensky said pressure on Moscow remained insufficient and criticized discussions about lifting sanctions on Russian oligarchs. Sanctions rarely produce an instant result. Their influence depends on enforcement, coordination, loopholes, and the availability of alternative buyers or payment routes. The article therefore presents stronger pressure as part of Ukraine’s effort to stop further escalation.

What rules of international humanitarian law protect civilians during war, and why are attacks on residential areas so significant under those rules?

International humanitarian law, especially the law of armed conflict, protects civilians during war. Parties must distinguish military targets from civilian people and objects. They must not deliberately attack civilians or launch attacks that cannot be directed at a specific military target. They must also take feasible precautions and cancel attacks expected to cause excessive civilian harm compared with the anticipated military advantage.

A residential building is generally a civilian object unless it is being used for military purposes. The Pryluky example is therefore significant: a Kh-101 missile struck a five-story apartment building, collapsing part of it and killing many people, including children. Legal responsibility depends on facts such as the intended target, available intelligence, weapon choice, precautions, and proportionality.

Civilian deaths alone do not automatically prove a war crime, but they demand investigation. Evidence from rescuers, imagery, weapon remnants, communications, and targeting records may help establish what happened. The article reports continuing attacks on homes and infrastructure, making civilian protection and accountability central concerns.

Key Facts:

📌 Russia used ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and Shahed drones.

📌 Pryluky, Kyiv, and Kremenchuk were among the cities hit.

📌 Civilian buildings and infrastructure suffered major damage.

📌 At least 25 people were killed across Ukraine.

📌 More than 100 people were injured.

📌 Pryluky reported 19 to 20 deaths, including five children.

📌 Ballistic missiles follow high-speed arcs.