Zelensky Visits Pryluky With UK’s Miliband, Thanks EU for €1.2B Tranche for Drones

President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to Pryluky with UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband to honor the victims after a Russian barrage – coinciding with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 74th birthday – left 22 civilians dead, including five children. In a series of statements issued on Thursday, Oct. 8, Zelensky condemned Wednesday’s strikes and confirmed that the strike on the apartment building left 54 people injured. During the visit, the two leaders met with residents who survived the attack and were briefed on the scale of the destruction.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “We must support our people,” Zelensky said, pointing to a veteran who lived in the apartment building destroyed by Russia. “When partners are literally standing alongside Ukrainians, it truly matters,” he continued, thanking Miliband for standing beside him in Pryluky and alluding to Western partners who continue supplying Kyiv with funding and air defense it needs to protect itself against Russia’s aggression. A city left without homes and shelters The damage extends far beyond the destroyed building. According to Zelensky, more than 100 residential buildings across Pryluky were damaged, along with schools, kindergartens, shops, businesses and other critical infrastructure the city depends on. Residents who spoke with the president described a shortage of both shelters and housing. In response, Zelensky ordered the head of the Chernihiv Regional Military Administration to quickly help those who have nowhere to live, adding that temporary assistance should eventually be followed by permanent solutions. Other Topics of Interest How to Build a Business Despite the War and Where to Find the Strength: Takeaways From the Fourth Forbes Ukraine CEO Summit Ukrainian CEOs shared lessons on building resilient businesses, supporting teams and preserving leaders’ energy amid Russia’s ongoing war at the fourth Forbes Ukraine CEO Summit in Kyiv. “It is also important that the victims ultimately receive new housing,” he said. Those whose homes were in the destroyed building should be allowed back into their apartments once the security situation permits, Zelensky said, placing the head of the State Emergency Service (SES) in charge of the process. Human cost of Russia’s war Ukrainian authorities consistently remind their partners that the war is not a distant fact on paper, but a reality measured in human lives and relentless terror. This became particularly visible in the last few weeks, as Russia increased its strikes on civilians and civilian infrastructure following the departure of senior US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner from Moscow. The two visited Moscow on Sept. 5 to hold talks with Russian diplomats and Putin himself, aiming to broker an end to the war. For the first time ever during their tenure, the envoys also visited Kyiv just a day after. Despite all three sides describing the negotiations as positive and productive, Russian barrage amplified. The latest attack on Pryluky left 17 civilians hospitalized, including a five-year-old girl. It also highlighted gaps in the city’s protection. After the health minister briefed him on efforts to build shelters in medical facilities, Zelensky ordered officials to speed up the work and secure additional funding. The hospital’s own shelter must be repaired as a priority, he said, while a new, modern one is built in its place. Together with city authorities, the health minister and the head of the Chernihiv Regional Military Administration will be responsible for the project, Zelensky said. He also tasked the interior ministers with inspecting every shelter in the city. Deadliest strike in a wave of attacks The Pryluky attack was the deadliest in a broader Russian assault launched on Wednesday, Oct. 7. A Kh-101 cruise missile was used to strike the five-story apartment block as Russia targeted cities across Ukraine with ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as Shahed drones, before continuing with aerial bombs during the day. As rescuers continued recovering bodies, the toll from Russia’s latest attacks kept rising. By Thursday, Zelensky said strikes on Pryluky, Kramatorsk, Kyiv and other cities had killed 78 people and injured 215 in recent days alone. He described the attacks as a severe escalation and “terror directed against people and life,” warning that world leaders must not ignore what is happening. EU and US support to continue The same concerns were raised during a telephone call with European Council President António Costa later on Thursday. Zelensky also thanked Costa for the €1.2 billion (l $1.4 billion) tranche that arrived in Ukraine on Wednesday, saying the money would go toward defense, primarily drones. “This will provide tremendous support,” Zelensky said. Beyond immediate military needs, the two leaders discussed the timeline for opening the next clusters in Ukraine’s EU accession talks, a winter energy package and further financial assistance. The call came ahead of the EC summit in Brussels, scheduled for Oct. 15-16. Between Zelensky and Costa, an agreement was reached to meet in a trilateral format with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Zelensky also briefed the EC President on meetings with US officials planned for the coming days, particularly Oct. 9-10, noting that a Ukrainian delegation is already on its way. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.