41 killed,180 injured in Russian missile strike on Ukraine

New Delhi, Sep 03: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that 41 people were killed and 180 injured in a Russian missile attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Poltava. The attack, involved two Russian ballistic missiles, struck the “territory of an educational institution and a nearby hospital,” according to President Zelensky.

The toll may yet rise as rescue operations continue, with 25 people trapped under rubble.

One of the affected structures was a building belonging to the Institute of Communications, which sustained major damage. Russian pro-war Telegram channels, including the Rybar channel cited by the BBC, claim that the strike targeted a military training centre, with cadets among the victims.

The Rybar channel further asserts that the attack eliminated valuable communications and electronic warfare specialists, personnel described as irreplaceable without lengthy training.

The attack left little time for civilians to seek shelter, with many injured as they attempted to reach bomb shelters following the air raid sirens. The strike was reportedly carried out using short-range ballistic Iskander missiles, a weapon known for its precision and destructive capability.

Thousands of civilians and military persons were killed and millions displaced, and entire cities devastated since the conflict began between Ukraine and Russia that escalated in February 2022, when Russia launched an invasion on Ukraine, citing security concerns over NATO’s expansion and the need to “demilitarise “ Ukraine.