On September 3, 2024, a catastrophic Russian missile attack on Poltava, Ukraine, resulted in at least 51 fatalities and left hundreds injured. This strike is considered one of the deadliest in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
The attack involved two Russian ballistic missiles targeting a hospital and a military educational institution. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the missiles caused significant damage to both locations. The missiles hit in the morning, impacting a city with a pre-war population of about 300,000, located around 300 kilometres east of Kyiv.
Witnesses described a scene of chaos and destruction. Yevgeniya Chyrva, a resident whose building was damaged, recounted the terror of the moment: "The window blew open. Dust was everywhere. I just had time to tell my sister that a rocket was flying."
The defence ministry noted that the time between the air raid alarm and the missiles’ impact was so brief that many people were caught off guard during their evacuation to bomb shelters.
The Poltava military communications institute, which trains telecommunications specialists, suffered severe damage. One of its buildings was partially destroyed, trapping numerous individuals under the debris.
Rescuers managed to save 25 people, including 11 who were initially trapped under the rubble.
Ambulances were quickly dispatched to the scene, and rescue operations were ongoing. Poltava’s governor, Philip Pronin, stated that more details could not be released "for security reasons."
The attack has drawn widespread condemnation. US President Joe Biden labelled it a “deplorable attack,” while British Foreign Secretary David Lammy and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also condemned the strike, with Baerbock criticising the brutality of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ukrainian MP Maria Bezugla criticised high-ranking officials, accusing them of endangering soldiers. She questioned the repeated tragedies, posting on Telegram, “These tragedies keep repeating themselves. When will it stop?”
In response to the attack and a series of scandals, Ukrainian President Zelensky has signalled a major government reshuffle. On the same day as the attack, several high-ranking officials, including the Ministers for Strategic Industries, Justice, and Environmental Protection, resigned. This follows recent controversies, including the crash of a US-made F-16 fighter jet, which led to the dismissal of Ukraine’s air force chief.
President Zelensky has ordered a full investigation into the circumstances of the attack and promised to hold those responsible accountable. The situation remains dire as the nation grapples with the fallout from this tragic event.
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