Ukraine: Selenskyj reports 41 dead in Russian attack on Poltava

According to Ukrainian sources, at least 41 people were killed in Russian attacks on the central Ukrainian city of Poltava. More than 180 other people were injured, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Tuesday. The target of the attack was apparently a military training center in the city – but according to Zelensky, “an educational institution and a neighboring hospital” in Poltava were hit by two missiles.

“A building of the Institute of Communications was partially destroyed,” Zelenskyj said on the online service Telegram. Several people were buried.

Target of attack on Ukraine probably military ceremony

According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, the two rockets struck shortly after the air raid warning began, when many people were still on their way to the air raid shelters. Several people were pulled from the rubble by rescue workers. Rescue work is still ongoing.

According to reports from Ukrainian military bloggers, the target of the attack was an open-air military ceremony. MP Mariana Besugla, who is a member of the Defense Committee and has often criticized the Ukrainian military leadership, said on Telegram that there had been similar incidents in the past. However, so far no high-ranking officer has been punished for endangering soldiers.

President Zelenskyy said he had ordered “a comprehensive and rapid investigation” into the circumstances of the attack in Poltava. He announced that he would “hold Russia accountable” and again called on Kyiv’s Western allies to quickly supply his country with new air defense systems and to allow them to use long-range weapons already delivered for attacks on Russian territory.

This article has been updated.