Families with children and a police veteran: what we know about those killed in the Russian strike on Pryluky
The article has been updated with information about those killed.
On the morning of 7 October, Russian forces attacked Pryluky in Chernihiv Oblast with six missiles. One of them hit a five-storey apartment building, destroying two sections. So far, 22 people are known to have been killed and 54 injured. Rescue workers are still clearing the rubble.
Source: Ukrainska Pravda.Zhyttia (Life)
Details: Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne reported that the Russian strike killed Viktoriia Bondarenko, 58, her daughter Kateryna Antypenko, 37, and her one-year-old grandson Oleksandr.
Viktoriia's granddaughter, Olha, survived because she was in another room at the time of the strike. She is currently being looked after by relatives.
The family lived on the fourth floor of the destroyed building. Kateryna worked at a local kiosk to support the family, while Viktoriia looked after her younger grandchild at home. Kateryna's husband works abroad and is already on his way home.
The Russian missile strike also 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 he retired for health reasons.
The oblast police said: "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 would go on to serve."
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 also 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's the main thing," Pertsovskyi wrote.
Employees of Ukrnafta and Naftogaz – Liudmyla Tsyba and 45-year-old Ihor Chub – were also killed in the attack. Liudmyla worked as a painter with an anti-corrosion protection team and was visiting relatives when the attack occurred.
Ihor was an assistant driller in the department for major and underground well repairs.
The young Maksiut family was also killed in the attack – 23-year-old Daria and her 32-year-old husband Oleksandr – Pryluky school No. 9 reported. The Russian strike also killed their one-and-a-half-year-old son Kyrylo.
Their relative Yuliia told Suspilne Chernihiv that the family lived on the third floor of the building that came under attack.
"In an instant, the family lost the people dearest to them. It is impossible to find words to describe the pain of such a terrible and unjust loss," the school wrote.
The Ivanchenko family was also among those killed. The attack claimed the lives of 38-year-old Yuliia and 39-year-old Oleksandr. They had two children – 13-year-old Iryna and six-year-old Maksym.
In Pryluky, 7, 8 and 9 October have been declared days of mourning for those killed in the missile attack.
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