Russian strikes across Ukraine kill at least 20; Zelensky calls it Putin birthday 'gift'
In short
Large-scale Russian attacks across Ukraine through October 7 killed at least 20 people, Japanese outlets reported, with tolls ranging from 20 to 28; President Zelensky put the toll at 25 dead and about 100 injured, NHK reported. In Chernihiv region an apartment building collapsed, killing 14 including four children, according to Ukrainian authorities. Zelensky called the attack a birthday 'gift' to President Putin, who turned 74 on October 7.
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Russian forces launched large-scale attacks on locations across Ukraine through October 7, killing at least 20 people, Japanese outlets reported. The reported toll changed over the night. NHK reported more than 12 dead on the evening of October 7. Nippon TV News reported 20 dead early on October 8, and TBS NEWS DIG later reported 28. NHK then reported that President Volodymyr Zelensky had put the toll at 25 dead and about 100 injured. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
According to Ukrainian authorities cited by Nippon TV News, an apartment building in the northern Chernihiv region was hit and collapsed, killing 14 people including four children. The capital Kyiv and other areas were also damaged. TBS NEWS DIG reported that Zelensky said on October 7 that Russian forces had attacked Chernihiv region, Kyiv and other areas with missiles and drones. [ 2 , 3 ]
Russia's Defence Ministry said on October 7 that it had carried out a 'large-scale attack' with drones and other weapons on military-industrial facilities across Ukraine, Nippon TV News reported. [ 2 ]
October 7 was President Vladimir Putin's 74th birthday. In a social media post, Zelensky said the Russian military had destroyed homes as a birthday 'gift' to Putin, Nippon TV News reported. NHK and TBS NEWS DIG also reported his criticism of the attack as a birthday present for the Russian president. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Zelensky also said Russian forces were targeting energy infrastructure among other things and appealed for Patriot interceptor missiles, according to Nippon TV News. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
Japan's public broadcaster and major commercial networks covered the attack, and the reported death toll rose through the night as reports came in. Zelensky said Russia is targeting energy infrastructure and appealed for Patriot interceptor missiles, Nippon TV reported.
Key facts
- Russian forces carried out large-scale attacks across Ukraine through October 7. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Reported death tolls rose from more than 12 to 20, 28 and 25 as reports were updated. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Zelensky said 25 people were killed and about 100 injured, NHK reported. [ 4 ]
- In Chernihiv region an apartment building was hit and collapsed, killing 14 people including four children, according to Ukrainian authorities. [ 2 ]
- Kyiv was also hit; Zelensky said Russia used missiles and drones against Chernihiv region, Kyiv and other areas. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Russia's Defence Ministry said it carried out a 'large-scale attack' with drones and other weapons on military-industrial facilities across Ukraine. [ 2 ]
- October 7 was President Putin's 74th birthday, and Zelensky called the attack a birthday 'gift' to Putin from the Russian military. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Zelensky said Russia was targeting energy infrastructure and appealed for Patriot interceptor missiles. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Russian forces carried out large-scale attacks across Ukraine through October 7. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Zelensky called the attack a birthday 'gift' to Putin, whose birthday is October 7. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Zelensky said 25 people were killed and about 100 injured. [ 4 ]
- Chernihiv region and Kyiv were among the areas hit. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- The final death toll. Outlets reported different figures as updates came in: more than 12 (NHK), 20 (Nippon TV News), 28 (TBS NEWS DIG) and 25 (NHK, citing Zelensky).
- Whether military-industrial facilities were hit, as Russia says. Only Nippon TV News reports the Russian Defence Ministry's statement, and no document reports damage to such facilities.
- The number of injured. Only NHK gives an injury figure, about 100, citing Zelensky.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- October 7: NHK reports a large-scale Russian attack on Putin's birthday with more than 12 dead. [ 1 ]
- October 8: Nippon TV News reports at least 20 dead, including 14 in a collapsed apartment building in Chernihiv region. [ 2 ]
- October 8: TBS NEWS DIG reports 28 dead. [ 3 ]
- October 8: NHK reports Zelensky's figures of 25 dead and about 100 injured. [ 4 ]