Pryluky, Ukraine: The Lives Behind the Numbers
Updated: Oct 11
On the morning of October 7, 2026, Russian forces launched a missile attack on Pryluky, a city in Ukraine's Chernihiv region.
One of the missiles struck a five-story residential building, destroying two entrances and trapping residents beneath the rubble. The attack occurred early in the morning, when many residents were still in their apartments.
According to Viacheslav Chaus, head of the Chernihiv Regional Military Administration, Russian forces launched six cruise missiles at Pryluky, preliminarily identified as Kh-101 missiles.
As of the morning of October 8, Ukrainian authorities reported 22 people killed, including five children. Another 54 people were injured, among them seven children.
Three of the children killed were just one year old. The other two were an eight-year-old boy and a thirteen-year-old girl.
FAMILIES KILLED IN THE PRYLUKY MISSILE STRIKE
Several families, including those with young children, were among the victims of the missile strike.
Viktoriia Bondarenko, Kateryna Antypenko and Oleksandr Antypenko
Viktoriia Bondarenko, 58, lived on the fifth floor of the building with her daughter, Kateryna Antypenko, and her grandson Oleksandr, who was one year and nine months old.
Viktoriia worked as a librarian at a local school. Kateryna had earned degrees in law and worked at the Pryluky tobacco factory.
According to Larysa Halych, a family acquaintance interviewed by Suspilne Chernihiv, Viktoriia cared for her grandson while Kateryna was at work. Kateryna's husband was working abroad at the time of the attack.
Rescue workers recovered the bodies of Kateryna and her young son from the rubble. Viktoriia was also killed.
Kateryna's older daughter, Olha, survived. At the moment of the strike, she was in a room facing the courtyard. Relatives subsequently took her into their care.
On October 10, residents of Pryluky gathered to say farewell to Viktoriia, Kateryna and Oleksandr.
The Ivanchenko Family
Oleksandr Ivanchenko, his wife Yuliia and their two children, Iryna and Maksym, were killed in the attack.
Oleksandr, born on June 27, 1987, worked as a locomotive driver for Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia).
Yuliia was born on December 2, 1989. Their daughter Iryna was born on August 30, 2013, and their son Maksym on January 31, 2018.
All four members of the family died in the missile strike.
The Maksiuta Family
Oleksandr and Daria Maksiuta lived on the fourth floor of the building with their young son Kyrylo.
Oleksandr was born on September 20, 1994, Daria on July 6, 2003, and Kyrylo on March 7, 2025.
All three were killed.
A relative told Suspilne Chernihiv that family members repeatedly tried to reach Oleksandr and Daria after the attack. At first, their phones rang without an answer. Later, both became unreachable.
Serhii Lievichiev and His Son Oleksii
Among those killed were 18-year-old Serhii Lievichiev and his one-year-old son, Oleksii Lisovol.
Serhii was born on January 5, 2008, and Oleksii on March 17, 2025.
The family had moved to Pryluky less than a month before the attack after their home in Izium, Kharkiv region, was destroyed.
Serhii died in intensive care following the missile strike. His young son was also killed.
At the time of the initial reports, Serhii's wife remained hospitalized in serious condition.
THE SCALE OF DESTRUCTION
According to information released by the Chernihiv Regional Police on October 8, the missile attack damaged:
525 apartments across 37 apartment buildings
88 private houses
20 businesses
25 vehicles
Five educational buildings
Two preschool institutions
A children's and youth creative centre
Administrative buildings and shops
Police officers, firefighters and emergency rescue teams worked at the destroyed residential building, searching for survivors and recovering victims from the rubble.
On October 7, police reported that 15 people, including children, had been rescued.
Search and rescue operations were completed by the morning of October 8. Emergency workers continued clearing debris and dismantling damaged structures.
October 7, 8 and 9 were declared official days of mourning in Pryluky.
EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS
Ukraine's public broadcaster, Suspilne Chernihiv, documented the aftermath of the missile attack and published a video report from the affected areas.
The report shows the damaged residential buildings and civilian infrastructure and includes accounts from local residents.
SOURCES:
Main photograph: State Emergency Service of Ukraine, Chernihiv Region (DSNS)
