In Pryluky, in the Chernihiv region, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy honored the memory of those killed in a Russian missile strike on a five-story apartment building on the night of October 7. The Russian attack claimed the lives of 22 people, including five children.
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband arrived at the scene of the tragedy alongside the Head of State.
“This is a terrible tragedy. We came here to help, to speak with people, and to honor those killed. During this trip, there was a horrific strike on Kramatorsk, with a large number of people killed,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
At the site, Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Ivan Vyhivskyi and Head of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine Andrii Danyk also reported on the efforts to address the aftermath of this brutal Russian strike.
The President thanked all emergency service personnel involved in search and rescue operations and clearing the rubble. First and foremost, the Head of State thanked them for saving 31 lives: 15 people were pulled from the rubble, including a five-year-old child, and another 16 were evacuated.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy also spoke separately with residents of the five-story apartment building destroyed by the Russians about their most urgent needs. The President noted that everyone who lost their home would receive the necessary assistance and gave the relevant instructions to the Head of the Regional Military Administration.
“I was told there is a building that has remained unfinished for 30 years. We will not wait. For those who need temporary housing, the Head of the Regional Military Administration will help together with local authorities. As for permanent housing, we will build you a home,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The Head of State also noted that people must be given access to their damaged apartments as soon as the security situation allows. The Head of the State Emergency Service must oversee this.
The President thanked the UK Foreign Secretary for coming to Pryluky today and showing solidarity with the Ukrainian people.
“We are sending signals to all our partners, including Britain. We are grateful for the strengthening of air defense – this is the number one task. And we must work on this every day,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.
The President noted the need to intensify work within the negotiation process, which would be facilitated by steps from the United States and European partners. It is important to provide financial assistance to Ukraine, strengthen Ukrainian air defense, and introduce new sanctions against Russia to force the Russian leader to the negotiating table.
“The killing of civilians is the clearest evidence of Putin’s criminal intentions and criminal strategy. The strikes are deliberately targeting civilian sites. We know what international law says about this: attacks against civilians are war crimes,” the Foreign Secretary emphasized.
Advisor – Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for Sanctions Policy Vladyslav Vlasiuk showed the British Foreign Secretary the components that make up a replica of the Kh-101 missile used by Russia to strike the apartment building in Pryluky. Russia used the same type of missile to attack the Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital in July 2024. It contains more than 100 foreign components. Ukraine calls for stronger pressure on everyone who facilitates Russia’s circumvention of sanctions and the production of Russian missiles and drones.
Ed Miliband assured Ukraine of the United Kingdom’s unwavering support. In particular, today the United Kingdom imposed new sanctions against Putin’s war machine, Russia’s shadow fleet, oil companies, the cryptocurrency sector, and sources of war financing.
“We are here to announce additional humanitarian assistance. We are here to announce additional support for the energy sector,” the Foreign Secretary added.
On the night of October 7, Russia struck a five-story apartment building in Pryluky with a Kh-101 missile. One section of the building was destroyed, and another was severely damaged. Search and rescue operations continued for more than 24 hours. The Russian attack claimed the lives of 22 people, with another 54 injured. In total, more than 125 apartment buildings and private homes, as well as vehicles, businesses, schools, kindergartens, and shops, were damaged in the city.