Putin's Birthday Missile Barrage Kills Dozens in Ukraine, Including Child

Russian President Vladimir Putin marked his 74th birthday with a widespread missile and drone attack across Ukraine, killing at least 25 people. The barrage, comprising over 70 ballistic missiles and drones, targeted infrastructure and residential areas.

In the northern Chernihiv region, a five-storey apartment building in Pryluky collapsed after a strike, resulting in nine fatalities, including three children. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the destruction of the Pryluky residential block was the Russian army's "birthday present" to Putin.

Elsewhere, in Kyiv, a 14-year-old boy, Daniel Umansky, was killed by a drone strike while doing his homework. His father, Zorick Umansky, recounted that his son had just written about a 12th-century ruler who "did not allow the powerful to oppress the poor and defenceless." The drone struck the family's apartment seconds later.

Mr. Umansky, a wine expert, described the psychological trauma experienced by his wife, who was present during the attack. The family, originally from Israel, had returned to Kyiv after the attacks on Israel in October 2023. Daniel's dream, he said, was for his future children to live in a safe place, free from constant threat.

"Russians are trying to make Kyiv impossible to live in. They carry out psychological terror," Mr. Umansky told the Daily Mail, appealing for greater international attention to Russia's actions in Ukraine. The attacks occurred in the early hours, with strategic bombers and drones used to target infrastructure.