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Russian Drone Strike Kills Fire Chief’s Entire Family in Chernihiv Region, Injures 8 Civilians
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
A series of Russian drone strikes overnight killed five civilians in the northern Ukrainian town of Pryluky, including a 1-year-old child, wounded at least eight others, and injured at least 18 people in Kharkiv, according to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (SES) on June 5.
The attack carried out using Shahed suicide drones—known in Russia as “Geran”—struck residential areas in Pryluky, Chernihiv region, sparking massive fires that destroyed multiple homes. Two women and an infant were found dead under the rubble of a collapsed building, local authorities confirmed.
The victims included a 46-year-old woman, her 26-year-old daughter, and her grandson, born in 2024. “The drone hit civilian infrastructure, not military targets,” the regional official stated. Two houses, two garages, a utility building, and a vehicle were completely destroyed by the explosions and ensuing fire.
Ukrainian Interior Ministry reported that in Pryluky, a Russian UAV hit the house of the head of the local fire department. His family was killed.
In particular, his wife, daughter (a patrol policewoman), and her one-year-old son were killed, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said.
Emergency crews, police, and medics continue to search through the debris. “More people may be still trapped under the rubble,” said a spokesperson for the Chernihiv Regional Administration.
All six injured residents in Pryluky were hospitalized with varying degrees of trauma. Doctors report that some of the victims remain in serious condition.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted to the attack, saying “Last night Russia attacked Pryluky, Chernihiv region, with six attack drones. The rescue operation lasted all night. Unfortunately, there are injured and dead. One of the rescuers arrived to eliminate the consequences right at his home: it turned out that his house was hit by a ‘shahed’. Unfortunately, his wife, daughter, and one-year-old grandson were killed.”
Meanwhile, in Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, at least 18 civilians—including four children aged 13, 9, and 7—were injured after Russian forces launched a combined drone and missile attack overnight.
One drone struck the 16th floor of a high-rise apartment building. Another hit the wall of a five-story residential block. Fires erupted in three separate locations across the city: a top-floor apartment in a 17-story building, a second-floor unit in a separate building, and a basement. Three cars were also destroyed in the blasts.
“Multiple residential buildings and vehicles were damaged as a result of the strikes,” Ukraine’s emergency service said in a statement.
Fire and rescue teams, pyrotechnic units, search dogs, and DSNS psychologists were deployed to assist survivors and manage the aftermath.
UPD. As of 10:28 a.m. Ukrainian Police reported that the number of injured as a result of a Russian drone strike on Pryluky had increased to eight.
Earlier, Russians hit the center of Sumy killing four people and injuring 16 civilians.
“Among the injured is a 17-year-old child. Several others are in serious condition,” the administration stated.
According to the administration, the injured are being transported to medical facilities across the regional center.
-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
