Families with children and police veteran: what is known about those killed in Russian strike on Pryluky
Russian forces attacked Pryluky in Chernihiv Oblast with six missiles on the morning of 7 October. One of the missiles hit a five-storey apartment building, destroying two sections. So far, 16 people are known to have been killed and 55 injured. Rescue workers are still clearing the rubble.
Source: Ukrainska Pravda.Zhyttia (Life)
Details: As reported by Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne, the Russian strike killed 58-year-old Viktoriia Bondarenko, her 37-year-old daughter Kateryna Antypenko and one-year-old grandson Oleksandr.
Her granddaughter, Olha, survived. She was in another room at the time of the strike. Relatives are currently looking after the girl.
The family lived on the fourth floor of the destroyed building. Kateryna worked at a local kiosk to support the family. Her mother stayed at home to look after her younger grandson. Kateryna's husband works abroad and is already on his way home.
In addition, the Russian missile strike killed 47-year-old police veteran Oleh Malysh. In 2024, he joined the Chernihiv Oblast Police rifle battalion and fought on the front line, but retired for health reasons.
"Oleh dedicated his life to serving in the internal affairs agencies, joining the law enforcement service in 2001. He began his career as a criminal investigations officer in Pryluky, where he subsequently served," the oblast police said.
Oleh's wife, who also serves in the police, was seriously injured and is currently in hospital in a critical condition. Her three-year-old niece was injured as well.
Oleh's mother-in-law was killed in the Russian strike.
A railway worker's family was also among those killed, Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways) CEO Oleksandr Pertsovskyi reported. He said the missile killed a train driver, his wife and their two children – an eight-year-old son and a 13-year-old daughter.
"We have other railway colleagues whose homes were destroyed. But they happened to be on duty at the station and survived. That is the main thing," Pertsovskyi wrote.
As of 15:00, 16 people were known to have been killed, including four children. Another 55 people were injured, including seven children. Other residential buildings, a local children's and youth creativity centre, a local business and cars were also damaged in the city. Rescue workers are still working at the scene of the strike.
In Pryluky, 7, 8 and 9 October were declared days of mourning for those killed in the missile attack.
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