Russia launches a wave of missile and drone attacks on Ukraine overnight to mark Vladimir Putin’s 74th birthday, according to Ukrainian authorities. Kyiv says the strikes kill at least 11 people, including children, and injure dozens, with damage reported across multiple cities. Residents in Kyiv and elsewhere take shelter in underground stations as air-raid alarms sound.
Ukrainian officials and media report that the attacks target residential areas, industrial sites and energy infrastructure, including facilities linked to electricity generation. Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls it a “birthday gift” for Putin and criticises the strikes as especially “vile,” while also renewing calls for more air defences. Ukraine’s air force and defence-related commentators describe a mix of weapons including drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles, with some launched from strategic bombers.
Across outlets, the timing is presented as planned in advance for Putin’s birthday, while Russia’s position is that it conducted a “massive strike” on military industrial facilities. The attacks also come amid wider diplomatic efforts, including recent attempts by US officials to advance a possible ceasefire that did not lead to an agreement.
