Key facts
- A Russian missile strike destroyed a five-story apartment building in Pryluky, Ukraine, on Oct. 7, 2026.
- At least 19 people were killed, including three one-year-old children.
- The attack coincided with Russian President Vladimir Putin's birthday.
- Residents expressed wishes for Putin to feel the suffering of Ukrainians.
- The strike was part of a larger salvo targeting cities across Ukraine.
Families stood outside the ruins of a five-story apartment building in Pryluky, Ukraine, on Oct. 7, 2026, as rescuers dug through the debris following a Russian cruise missile strike. The attack, which killed at least 19 people including three one-year-old children, coincided with Russian President Vladimir Putin's birthday. Residents expressed their grief and anger, with some wishing Putin could experience the suffering of the Ukrainian people. Olga, 41, stated, "As a Christian, you cannot wish death on someone... But I wish that he could feel even the tiniest fraction of what our people and our children are feeling." Others were more direct; 75-year-old Volodymyr Ivashchenko said, "I hope he drops dead soon." The neighborhood, typically filled with families and children, was left buried in dust. Many residents, like Tetiana Pinchuk, 69, who had previously opposed strikes on Russian homes, now expressed a hardening of sentiment due to the targeting of civilians. Ludmila, 58, recounted the loss of a classmate, her daughter, and her grandchild in the attack, highlighting the profound personal impact of the ongoing conflict.