Yesterday, a devastating missile strike hit the city of Poltava in central Ukraine, targeting a military academy and a nearby hospital. Ukrainian officials reported that the attack claimed the lives of at least 51 people and injured over 200 others. The incident is one of the deadliest missile strikes since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.
The missiles directly struck the Poltava Military Institute of Communication, causing multiple floors of the building to collapse. Emergency workers rushed to the scene, working through the rubble to rescue survivors, while Ukrainian authorities declared three days of mourning in the region.
The missile attack occurred just minutes after an air-raid siren had sounded in Poltava, sending residents scrambling for cover. Rescue crews managed to pull 25 people, including 11 from beneath the debris, as the death toll climbed. Up to 18 more people were feared trapped in the rubble. Filip Pronin, the governor of the Poltava region, confirmed the number of casualties and stressed that search efforts would continue throughout the night.
Poltava is located in a strategic area of central Ukraine, connecting the capital Kyiv to Kharkiv, one of the country’s largest cities and close to the Russian border. The military institute that was targeted specializes in training officers in communications and electronic warfare — skills critical in modern military operations.
President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack, calling it a “barbaric assault.” He reiterated Ukraine’s need for more advanced air defense systems, urging Western allies to accelerate the delivery of weapons that could help defend against future strikes. Zelensky also pointed out that lives could have been saved if Ukraine had been better equipped to counter missile attacks.
International reactions to the strike were swift, with leaders across the world denouncing the attack. U.S. President Joe Biden described it as a “tragic reminder” of the ongoing devastation caused by Russia’s aggression. He reaffirmed the United States’ support for Ukraine and pledged additional military aid, including the delivery of air defense systems. European leaders also echoed the condemnation, calling for continued global pressure on Russia.
The attack in Poltava is part of a broader pattern of Russian strikes targeting critical infrastructure and civilian areas throughout Ukraine. In recent days, missile attacks have also struck other regions, including the capital Kyiv and the western city of Lviv. Although these cities had been relatively spared from the heaviest bombardments earlier in the war, recent strikes have caused extensive damage to residential areas and critical infrastructure.
Local residents near the strike site in Poltava described scenes of chaos, with shattered windows and debris covering the streets. Volunteers from the community were quick to offer help, donating blood and assisting with rescue efforts. One local resident, Mykyta Petrov, a cadet at the military academy, described the moment the missiles hit, recalling the dust, smoke, and devastation that followed.
The Ukrainian government has vowed to hold Russia accountable for the attacks and has called for the international community to intensify efforts to bring those responsible to justice. While the Kremlin has not commented on the strike, it has faced growing criticism over its use of missile attacks on civilian targets since the war began.
As the conflict continues to escalate, Ukraine’s calls for increased military assistance remain urgent. Zelensky continues to emphasize the need for advanced defense systems and long-range missile capabilities to protect Ukrainian cities from further devastation.
The situation in Poltava serves as another grim reminder of the cost of war, as the people of Ukraine endure yet another tragic loss in the fight for their nation’s survival.
Image is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license and was created by TUBS.
