By A Russian missile strike on the eastern Ukrainian city of Poltava has resulted in at least 41 deaths and 180 injuries, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy reported on Thursday. The attack marks one of the deadliest single assaults on a civilian area in recent months, further escalating tensions in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
President Zelenskiy, in a statement, provided preliminary details of the attack:
“According to initial reports, the eastern city of Poltava was hit by two Russian ballistic missiles,” Zelenskiy said. He added that the strike targeted “the territory of an educational institution and a nearby hospital.”
The president elaborated on the extent of the damage and rescue efforts: “At least 41 people have been killed and 180 injured, with some individuals being rescued from under the rubble.”
Among the structures affected, Zelenskiy noted that one of the buildings of the Institute of Communications was partially destroyed in the attack.
The strike on Poltava, a city not frequently in the headlines of the conflict, underscores the widespread nature of the war and its impact on civilian areas far from the front lines. The targeting of educational and medical facilities raises further concerns about the protection of civilians in the ongoing conflict.
Emergency services are currently on the scene, working to rescue any remaining survivors and assess the full extent of the damage. The number of casualties may change as more information becomes available.
This attack comes as both Ukraine and Russia continue to engage in military operations across various regions, with civilian areas often bearing the brunt of the conflict. International observers and human rights organizations have repeatedly called for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure in accordance with international humanitarian law.
The Ukrainian government is expected to provide more details about the attack and its response in the coming hours. Meanwhile, the international community’s reaction to this latest escalation is anticipated, potentially leading to further diplomatic efforts to address the ongoing crisis.
