Ukraine Confirms Soldiers Among 51 Victims of Poltava Attack

 Missile Attack Devastates Poltava: 51 Dead, 271 Injured in Central Ukraine

At least 51 people have been killed and 271 others injured after a Russian missile strike targeted the city of Poltava in central Ukraine. Among the sites hit were a military academy and a nearby hospital, with Ukraine's land forces confirming that military personnel were among the casualties.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence stated that the air raid alarm gave people little time to reach bomb shelters before the missiles struck. President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack, vowing that those responsible would pay, and reiterated his calls for more air defense systems to enable Ukraine to carry out its own long-range missile strikes. Moscow has yet to comment on the incident.

Residents near the impact site reported that the force of the explosion shattered their windows. One of those affected was 26-year-old Mykyta Petrov, a cadet who had just started at the Poltava Military Communications Institute two weeks prior. He described the terrifying moment when the attack unfolded just after 09:00 local time on Tuesday (06:00 GMT), recalling that the second missile struck just three seconds after the first.

“I ran outside, there was smoke and dust everywhere… lots of people were outside having a cigarette, and many were killed…” Petrov said, adding that the scene has left him deeply shaken. “Too much blood, too many dead bodies,” he lamented.

Earlier reports from Russian military bloggers suggested that cadets were gathered for a military parade at the institute, but Ukraine's defence ministry confirmed that no parade was taking place at the time. The alarms sounded at 09:08 local time, prompting everyone to head to the shelter, with the explosions occurring just minutes later.

Thirty-year-old Jana Kulishova was one of the victims caught in the attack. Awakened by the air raid siren, she didn't have enough time to reach a shelter. The tragedy hit close to home for her, as her husband is currently fighting on the frontlines in the Donbas region. “Soldiers have died here, and I know there are still soldiers under the rubble. Their wives are waiting for them,” she said.

Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Goncharenko emphasized the impossibility of escaping in such a short time, telling the BBC that the two minutes between the air raid siren and the missile strikes in Poltava were "nothing." "Imagine you're on the sixth floor of a building and need to run downstairs. Is it realistic to do this in two minutes?" he asked. "This is life here, several times a day. We can't continue like this. It's just not fair.

In a statement on Telegram, Ukraine's land forces confirmed the deaths of military personnel and announced an investigation to determine whether enough was done to protect those at the facility targeted by the missile. They also pledged to enhance safety measures at military sites to prevent similar tragedies.

Firefighters have been working tirelessly at the scene, clearing debris from the buildings, while army personnel have restricted access due to the sensitive nature of the site.

Earlier, Poltava resident Olena Serdyuk described the terrifying moments during the attack: "The air raid alert started, and within a minute, there were two explosions. We immediately ran into the bathroom with our child, but then tried to collect ourselves." She mentioned that there is no bomb shelter nearby, making it difficult to find safety in time.

Another local resident, Anastasiia Artyukh, described hearing "two very strong explosions" and expressed her fear, calling the situation "really scary." "A nearby house had all its windows blown out. We don't have a basement in our house, so our only option was to sit and wait.

Governor Condemns 'Cunning and Cynical' Russian Strike

Poltava regional governor Philip Pronin condemned the attack as a "cunning and cynical Russian strike," revealing that 15 people were still believed to be trapped under the rubble. He confirmed that search teams were actively working at the site and noted that 10 residential buildings had sustained damage. Pronin added that more details could not be disclosed immediately due to security concerns.

Ukraine's first lady, Olena Zelenska, expressed her sorrow on X, describing the attack as "a stunning tragedy for all of Ukraine." She added, "Russia is stealing the most precious thing from us—life

In a video posted on the Ukrainian presidential website and X, President Zelensky vowed that Russia would be held accountable for the strike on Poltava. He announced that a "full and prompt" investigation had been ordered and that "all necessary services are involved in the rescue operation." Zelensky reiterated the urgent need for long-range air defense systems, stating that "every day of delay, unfortunately, means more lost lives.

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemned the attack, calling it a "sickening act of aggression in Putin’s abhorrent and illegal war in Ukraine," and expressed his sympathy for the victims and their families. Similarly, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby described the strike as "another horrific reminder of Putin's brutality towards the people in Ukraine," and confirmed that Washington would be sending additional military aid to Kyiv in the coming weeks. Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also condemned the attack, stating that Vladimir Putin "knows no limits to brutality.