Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated that on Tuesday (September 3), Russia launched two missiles at a military academy in the central town of Poltava, resulting in at least 41 deaths and over 180 people injured. This is the deadliest attack in the war so far this year.
Zelenskiy pointed out in a video that Russian forces used two ballistic missiles in this attack, causing a building at the military communications academy to be destroyed. He ordered an immediate comprehensive investigation.
Zelenskiy stated on the Telegram messaging app that Russia “will be held accountable for this attack.” According to official reports, the attack took place in Poltava, about 350 kilometers (200 miles) southeast of Kyiv. The city is located on the main highway and railway line between Kyiv and Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, which is near the Russian border.
This attack appears to be the deadliest one carried out by the Russian military since the war began on February 24, 2022, more than 900 days ago.
According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, the type of weapon used by Russia allowed little time for people to seek cover after the air raid sirens went off. Many were on their way to bomb shelters, and the Ukrainian Defense Ministry described the attack as “barbaric.”
Photos posted on Ukrainian social media show several bodies lying on the ground, covered in dust and debris, with a severely damaged building in the background.
The Defense Ministry on Telegram stated, “A building at this institute has been partially destroyed, with many people trapped under the debris.”
Through the collaborative efforts of rescue workers and medical personnel, a total of 25 people have been rescued, with 11 pulled out from the rubble. Rescue operations are still ongoing.
Poltava Governor Filip Pronin stated that many residents have donated blood for the injured. The local government has declared three days of mourning.
The identities of the victims have not been disclosed immediately.
Russia has not commented on the attack. In the past month, the conflict has escalated. Russian forces have launched intense offensives in eastern Ukraine, while Ukrainian forces have initiated a large-scale cross-border attack on Russia for the first time, with Moscow vowing retaliation.
Last week, Ukraine faced its most intense bombardment yet. On Monday, Russia carried out missile strikes on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, with explosions shaking the city.
Over the weekend, Ukraine also launched over 158 drones to attack Russia, causing damage to a refinery and power plant near Moscow.
Zelenskiy once again urged the West to help strengthen its air defense and urged allies to allow the use of their long-range weapons to carry out deeper strikes on Russian territory to protect Ukraine.
(This article drew from reports by Reuters and the Associated Press)