A devastating Russian strike on a military educational facility in central Ukraine has resulted in the deaths of 41 individuals and left over 180 others injured, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. This attack stands as one of the deadliest incidents since the commencement of Moscow's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
President Zelensky revealed that initial reports suggest that two ballistic missiles struck the facility located in the city of Poltava, as well as a nearby hospital on Tuesday morning.
In response to the tragedy, Zelensky emphasized the urgent need for air defense systems and missiles within Ukraine to counter the ongoing terror. He urged the international community to provide support in the form of long-range defense capabilities to protect against further Russian aggression.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba highlighted the swift and devastating nature of the missile attack, noting that intercepting such missiles would require advanced air defense systems like the Patriot or SAMP/T.
While Ukraine has received some Patriot air defense systems from the United States and Germany, officials stress that the current supply is insufficient to adequately defend the nation.
The Biden administration has expressed its commitment to prioritizing critical air defense capabilities for Ukraine, but Kuleba emphasized the pressing need for additional support to prevent further tragedies.
Local authorities in Poltava have declared three days of mourning following the devastating strike, which caused significant damage to buildings in the area. Emergency services have been working tirelessly to rescue individuals trapped in the rubble and contain fires resulting from the attack.
Despite the gravity of the situation, Moscow has remained silent on the incident, with reports indicating that a military school in Poltava was targeted in the strike.
