Wednesday, Oct. 7, marks Putin’s 74th birthday amid a series of devastating strikes on Kyiv and several regions across Ukraine, including Pryluky, Dnipro, Kremenchuk, and Oleksandriia, that left about two dozen people dead, including five children.

“On Putin’s birthday, Russian generals brought him his favorite present: war crimes,” Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.

One Russian official said that the purpose of the strikes is to make Russians afraid to go to sleep.

“That is exactly what the enemy is counting on. For us to be afraid to fall asleep. To let our children out of our sight. To plan anything. So that everyone thinks: Next time it could be my address,” said Vitalii Diakivnych, head of the regional military administration in Kremenchuk.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pleaded for help amid a shortage of defense missiles due to the war in Iran.

In a lengthy statement on X, the president described the attack and closed with an expression of gratitude for assistance rendered.

“Today, as a birthday ‘gift’ to Putin, the Russian army destroyed a residential building in Pryluky, in the Chernihiv region,” he wrote. “Tragically, as of now, five people have been reported killed and 26 injured, including five children. There may still be people under the rubble. First responders are working nonstop at the site — doing everything possible to find every person.”

“Russian missile strikes also damaged five apartment buildings in Dnipro and four high-rise buildings in Kremenchuk,” he continued. “Tragically, two people were killed and eight injured … My condolences to all the families and loved ones of those killed.”

“Overall, infrastructure in Kyiv and 12 regions came under attack last night. One of the key targets was our energy infrastructure. The Russians wanted to strike painfully and demonstratively. 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,” he said.

“Russian ballistic missiles remain the greatest challenge. And air defense packages for us right now are a vital necessity. That is why every day we are looking for missiles for Patriot systems that can and must actually protect people’s lives here, in Ukrainian skies. Thank you to everyone who is helping us,” he concluded.

Kyiv was prepared for the assault, but due to the lack of defensive missiles for its Patriot air defense system, the Ukrainian army could not deflect all the strikes.