At least 49 people died and more than 209 were injured by the impact of two Russian ballistic missiles in the city of Poltava, located in the Eastern UkraineUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said people were still trapped under the rubble.
“The projectiles hit the vicinity of an educational center and a hospital,” Zelensky said in a brief message your condolences to the victims’ families and ordered a “full and prompt investigation” into the circumstances of the incident.
“All necessary services and resources were available to carry out the search and rescue operations. I thank all those who are helping to save lives,” he said, adding that the missiles struck “as people were heading to an air raid shelter after hearing the sirens.
Thus, he explained that one of the buildings of the educational center was destroyed, so it is estimated that dozens of people could were buried under the rubble. “Thanks to the coordinated work of doctors and rescue teams, the lives of 25 people were saved, eleven of whom were trapped,” he said.
“Russian scum will undoubtedly be held responsible for this attack.”warned the Ukrainian president. Zelensky once again called on his international partners to provide weapons to “put an end to this terror”, stressing that this equipment “is needed in Ukraine and not in a warehouse somewhere else”.
For its part, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry urged the population to stay calm and confident only in “information released through official channels” of the government. “Any speculation about this tragedy is unacceptable,” he said.
Interior Minister Igor Klimenko said in a Telegram message that firefighters were extinguishing a fire in the surrounding area. “The area near the impact zone is residential. The facades and windows of the tallest buildings were damaged. The police are checking all the houses for possible injured people,” he explained.
“All the victims are be immediately transferred to various hospitals to receive assistance. The rescue services, taking into account the security aspect, will work until we are sure that everyone has been released. Our deepest condolences to the families of the victims. We wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” he said.
Meanwhile, Russian pro-war Telegram channel Rybar claims that during the attack Dozens of soldiers died Ukrainians among whom there are “highly valuable specialists in communications and electronic warfare.”
