At least 47 individuals lost their lives and 206 were injured when Russia launched two missiles at a military institute in the central town of Poltava on Tuesday, according to Ukraine's first lady. This marks the most lethal single attack of the year. Images circulating on social media depicted several bodies strewn across the ground, obscured by dust and debris, with a severely damaged building in the background. Reuters was unable to immediately confirm the authenticity of these images.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, via the Telegram messaging app, vowed that "the Russian scum will definitely be held accountable for this strike." He mandated a thorough and swift investigation, noting that the attack involved two ballistic missiles which caused significant damage to the Military Institute of Communications. The identities of the victims remain uncertain, though some Ukrainian military bloggers speculate that they might include cadets or recently mobilized trainees.
The foreign ministry highlighted that the use of ballistic missiles, which can reach targets hundreds of kilometers away in mere minutes, left victims with little time to seek shelter once the air raid siren activated. Ukraine's first lady, Olena Zelenska, described the incident as a "stunning tragedy for all of Ukraine," involving an educational institution and a hospital. Concerned messages from Ukrainians flooded the institute's Facebook page, seeking news about their loved ones.
The defense ministry reported that one of the institute's buildings was partially demolished, with many individuals trapped beneath the debris. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of rescuers and medics, 25 people were saved, including 11 extracted from the rubble. The rescue operations are ongoing. Russia has yet to comment on the attack.
In the midst of the full-scale war, Russia has escalated its missile and drone assaults on Ukraine. Last week saw the heaviest bombardment yet, and on Monday, ballistic and cruise missiles targeted Kyiv, resulting in loud explosions. In response, Ukraine launched over 158 drones over the weekend, causing damage to an oil refinery near Moscow and a power station.
Zelenskiy reiterated his plea for additional Western air defenses and urged allies to permit the use of their long-range weapons to strike deeper into Russian territory to safeguard Ukraine. "We keep telling everyone in the world who has the power to stop this terror: air defense systems and missiles are needed in Ukraine, not in a warehouse somewhere," he emphasized. "Long-range strikes that can protect us from Russian terror are needed now, not some time later. Unfortunately, every day of delay means loss of life."
In Poltava, approximately 300 km southeast of Kyiv and 120 km from the nearest Russian border, governor Filip Pronin reported that numerous residents had donated blood for the wounded. Local authorities declared three days of mourning. The identities of the victims have not been disclosed. Serhiy Beskrestnov, a prominent Ukrainian Telegram blogger, paid tribute to "my signals operator comrades."
The conflict has escalated in recent months, with Russian forces making advances in heavy battles in eastern Ukraine, while Kyiv's troops have initiated their first large-scale cross-border assault into a Russian region, prompting Moscow to threaten retaliation.
