at least 41 dead –

At least 41 people have died and 180 have been injured in the Ukrainian city of Poltava, which was hit by a Russian attack. The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, reported the news on X, referring to the first reports coming from the area that was allegedly hit by two Russian ballistic missiles: “I have received the first reports of the Russian attack on Poltava,” he wrote in a long post on X. “According to available information, two ballistic missiles hit the area. They targeted a nearby school and hospital, partially destroying one of the buildings of the telecommunications institute.”

“There were people trapped under the rubble. Many were rescued, but more than 180 were injured,” he added. “Unfortunately, there are many victims. We now know that 41 people were killed.” Zelensky explained that he had ordered a “full and timely” investigation and thanked “all those who helped” in the rescue operations and “saved lives.” “The Russian scum will certainly pay for this attack,” he concluded, once again urging “anyone in the world who has the power to stop this terror.” Ukraine, he reiterated, “needs air defense systems and missiles now. We need long-range strikes now, not later, that can protect us from Russian terror. Every day of delay unfortunately means more lives lost.” Starting tomorrow, the governor of the Poltava region Philip Pronin announced via Telegram, the region will remember the victims with three days of mourning.