By:Pioly Heartbreaking news as two ballistic missiles strike a military academy and hospital in eastern Ukraine, casualties reported. Thoughts and prayers with the victims and their families.
Ukrainian officials reported that a Russian missile strike on Tuesday resulted in the deaths of over 50 individuals and left many others injured, marking one of the most lethal attacks in the ongoing two-and-a-half-year conflict. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that two ballistic missiles targeted a military academy and a nearby hospital in the eastern city of Poltava. According to Ukraine’s prosecutor general’s office, 51 fatalities have been confirmed, with rescue operations still in progress.
The missiles hit with alarming speed, as the Ukrainian Defense Ministry noted that the interval between the warning sirens and the impact was so brief that numerous individuals were caught in the open, leading to additional casualties.
Additional context includes:
Intense combat: These strikes occur during a particularly volatile phase of the war, with Ukraine launching an offensive into Russian territory while Russian forces are mounting aggressive operations in eastern Ukraine, particularly aiming to seize the strategic transit hub of Pokrovsk.
Targeting cadets: Reports from Ukrainian media indicate that many of the deceased were cadets from the Poltava Institute of Military Communications. This incident is not isolated, as Russia has previously targeted concentrations of Ukrainian troops; for instance, a missile strike last fall during a medal ceremony for artillery units in the Zaporizhzhia region resulted in the deaths of 19 soldiers, provoking significant criticism of both military and civilian leadership.
Local authorities in Poltava have declared three days of mourning for the victims. In a video address, Mr. Zelensky extended his condolences to the families and friends affected, while also announcing that he had initiated an investigation into the strikes. A search and rescue operation is currently in progress, with reports from local government indicating that many individuals are coming forward to donate blood.
In Poltava, local officials have proclaimed a three-day mourning period for the victims. Mr. Zelensky expressed his sympathies to the bereaved families and friends in a video message, stating that he has ordered an inquiry into the strikes. A search and rescue operation is actively taking place, and local government sources report that numerous people are queuing to donate blood.
Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine
Ukrainian officials reported that late Tuesday, Russia conducted airstrikes on a university campus located in the town of Sumy, situated in northeastern Ukraine. Emergency response teams were dispatched to the area to assess the situation. At this time, details regarding the level of destruction or any potential casualties remain unavailable. Sumy is positioned directly across the border from the Russian Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces have successfully captured extensive territories during a sudden offensive that commenced last month.
John F. Kirby, a spokesperson for the White House, stated that the Russian ballistic missile attack on a Ukrainian military academy located in Poltava serves as "yet another horrific reminder of the extent of" President Vladimir Putin's "brutality towards the Ukrainian people and the way he seeks to retaliate against them for his own invasion of their nation."
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