The Russian army launched a “massive strike” upon Ukraine overnight in “another act of terror”.
07/10/2026
Vladimir Putin launched a “massive strike” on Ukraine overnight just as the autocrat prepared to celebrate his birthday.
The Russian dictator turns 74 today and evidently marked the occasion by upping the ante against his neighbour more than four years after he first invaded the country.
At least 11 people – including five children – were killed in Ukraine overnight, according to Kyiv, after Russia hit 13 regions in a huge set of attacks.
The strikes hit residential buildings, industrial facilities and significant infrastructure using 130 drones, 48 cruise missiles and ballistic missiles, according to the Ukrainian air force.
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the attack was a birthday “gift” from the Russian army to Putin.
“The Russians wanted to strike painfully and demonstratively,” he said. “This was one of the most vile strikes: 70 missiles in total, many of them ballistic, as well as Shaheds.
“Unfortunately, only some of them were shot down. Russian ballistic missiles remain the greatest challenge.”
Russia has increased its strikes on Ukraine over the last week just as the winter cold starts to creep in.
While frontline fighting tends to be put on hold when temperatures drop, Putin typically uses the freezing temperatures to deplete Ukrainian morale by targeting their energy infrastructure instead.
Ukraine’s parliamentary commissioner for human rights, Dmytro Lubinets, said: “Ukraine has once again been hit by Russian missiles throughout the night.
“Another sleepless night, another act of terror, after which people still have to plan their working day despite everything.”
Russia’s defence ministry claimed its forces had carried out a “massive strike” on military industrial facilities.
The escalation comes as US president Donald Trump’s latest attempt to secure a peace deal fell apart.
His delegates travelled in person to see Putin in Moscow and then Zelenskyy in Kyiv last month to discuss terms of a ceasefire.
However, the Russian dictator continues to drag his heels and refuses to compromise on his maximalist wartime demands.
Moscow seems to be hoping battle fatigue from Ukraine will help it secure a victory more fitting to Putin’s push to seize the whole country, though Kyiv continues to hold its own.
Putler is a mass murderer. The only way the blood-soaked demon can celebrate the day of slipping out of the stinking hole from the rotten goblin that was its mother is by killing as many as possible and by destroying whatever it can.