Buildings in Poltava were damaged after a Russian missile strike on Tuesday. Financial Times
A Russian missile strike on a military training facility in central Ukraine has resulted in 51 deaths and over 200 injuries, marking one of the deadliest attacks since Russia's large-scale invasion began in February 2022. The assault, which also targeted a nearby hospital, occurred early Tuesday morning in Poltava, a city in central Ukraine.
President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that two ballistic missiles hit the facility and the hospital. He emphasized the urgent need for more air defence systems, stating, “We say again and again to everyone in the world who has the power to stop this terror: air defence systems and missiles are needed in Ukraine, not somewhere in a warehouse.”
Filip Pronin, head of the Poltava region's military administration, reported the grim toll on Telegram, noting that rescue teams are still sifting through the debris. Authorities fear that up to 18 additional people might be trapped under the rubble. The attack also damaged at least ten residential buildings in Poltava.
While Moscow has yet to respond to the incident, Russian military blogger Vladimir Rogov confirmed the strike on the military school. In response, President Zelensky renewed his appeal to Western allies for increased air defence support and the lifting of restrictions on Ukraine's military actions inside Russia. “Long-range strikes that can protect against Russian terror are needed now, not later. Every day of delay is, unfortunately, the death of people,” he added.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, speaking to CNN, described the rapidity with which the missiles struck, noting that people were caught off guard as they tried to reach bomb shelters. Kuleba, who hails from Poltava, emphasized that only advanced air defence systems like the Patriot or SAMP/T could have intercepted the ballistic missiles.
Although Ukraine has received some Patriot systems from the United States and Germany, officials argue that the quantity remains insufficient for effective defence. The Biden administration had previously prioritized critical air defence capabilities for Ukraine, but Kuleba expressed frustration over the slow pace of receiving these weapons, stating, “I don’t know how many more tragedies like this have to occur for all promises to be fulfilled and for all new commitments to be made.”
In response to the attack, local authorities in Poltava declared three days of mourning, describing the day as “terrible.” Details about the strike are being withheld for security reasons.
Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska labelled the attack a “terrible tragedy for the whole of Ukraine,” extending her condolences to the victims’ families and vowing that the country would never forget. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemned the attack, calling it a “sickening act of aggression” and reaffirming support for Ukraine.
