At least 41 people died and others 180 were injured in a Russian attack with two ballistic missiles that hit an educational institution and a hospital in the city of Poltava in central Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported on his social media. It was one of the deadliest attacks carried out by Russia since the start of its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
“People remained under the rubble. Many were rescued. More than 180 people were injured. Unfortunately, there are many dead. At the moment we know that there are at least 41 deaths. My condolences to all the families and loved ones,” Zelensky wrote.
According to the Ukrainian president, the missiles hit “an educational institution and a nearby clinic” and partially destroyed a building of the Poltava Institute of Communications.
I have received preliminary reports of the Russian attack in Poltava. According to available information, two ballistic missiles hit the area. They targeted an educational institution and a nearby hospital, partially destroying one of the buildings of the telecommunications institute.… pic.twitter.com/TNppPr1OwF
– Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 3, 2024
Zelensky ordered an investigation to be conducted”complete” of all the circumstances in which the attack occurred.
According to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, the ballistic missiles fell on the impact site almost immediately after the air raid alarms were triggered, so the people there did not have time to take refuge in basements or anti-aircraft bunkers.
The head of the Poltava region expressed his condolences and assured that it was a “terrible day” for the city. He also asked citizens to donate blood.
Meanwhile, Russian pro-war Telegram channel Rybar claims that dozens of Ukrainian soldiers died in the attack, including “high-value specialists in communications and electronic warfare.”
