2024-09-08 04:59:30
Many dead in Russian attack
“A barbaric blow”
Updated on 03.09.2024Reading time: 3 min.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyy speaks out after Russian attack (Quelle: Glomex)
At least 51 people were killed in a Russian missile attack in central Ukraine. The attack probably hit Ukrainian recruits.
According to Ukrainian sources, at least 51 people were killed in the central Ukrainian city of Poltava in one of the most devastating Russian attacks since the start of the war. “The number of injured is 271,” said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his evening video message on Tuesday. The rockets hit a military training center and a hospital.
“We know that there are people under the rubble of the destroyed building,” said Zelensky. “Everything is being done to save as many lives as possible.” Zelensky stressed that he had ordered a “full and immediate investigation.”
In terms of the number of casualties, the attack is considered one of the worst since Russia began its war of aggression against Ukraine more than two and a half years ago. The city of Poltava, located about 280 kilometers east of Kyiv, is just over 110 kilometers from the Russian border.
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A building of the Institute of Communications was badly damaged. Zelensky renewed his call to the Western allies to quickly deliver missile defense weapons. “Air defense systems and associated missiles are needed in Ukraine and not in a warehouse somewhere,” the head of state stressed.
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He also stressed again that long-range missiles are needed to strike military targets in the Russian hinterland. “Long-range strikes that can ward off Russian terror are needed now, not sometime later. Unfortunately, every day of delay is a loss of human life,” said Zelensky.
According to authorities, the attack occurred at around 9:10 a.m. local time when the soldiers were gathered. There was apparently very little time between the sounding of the air raid siren and the impact of the rockets. Many recruits were on the street at the time. “Poltava is experiencing a terrible day. The Russian aggressor has dealt a barbaric blow to one of the city’s educational institutions,” the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said.
In images on social networks that could not be verified at first, bodies could be seen in front of a heavily damaged multi-story building. It is said to be the Military Institute of Telecommunications and Informatization of the Kyiv Polytechnic University in Poltava. According to Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, at least 25 people were rescued from the rubble.
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In the neighboring residential area, the blast wave destroyed windows and damaged facades, it was reported. According to the authorities, many people in the city spontaneously came forward to donate blood. Governor Filip Pronin declared three days of mourning for the entire Poltava region. “A great tragedy for the Poltava region and the whole country. The enemy’s insidious strike cost 41 people their lives. More than 180 people were wounded. Sincere condolences to relatives and friends,” wrote Pronin in his Telegram channel.
Ukraine has been defending itself against the Russian invasion for more than two and a half years, also with Western military assistance. Selenskyj calls almost daily for better air defense to protect the cities and long-range missiles to hit targets deep in the Russian interior.
Authorities had already reported Russian air and artillery attacks on Ukrainian territory on Tuesday morning, as well as deaths and injuries. In the city of Zaporizhia, after a visit by Zelensky, shells struck on Monday evening, killing two people. One of the victims was an eight-year-old boy, regional governor Ivan Fedorov wrote on Telegram.
In the city of Dnipro, one man was killed and six people were injured by rocket fire, the local administration announced. According to reports, a power substation was hit in the region. In the north-eastern region of Sumy, Russian aerial bombs and artillery shells have hit numerous places since Monday. Three people were injured. Supplies for the Ukrainian troops in their offensive in the Russian region of Kursk are running through the Sumy region on the border with Russia.