A Russian missile strike in the eastern Ukrainian city of Poltava on Tuesday killed at least 41 people and injured another 180, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, in the latest in a series of devastating strikes on Ukrainian cities.
Two ballistic missiles hit an educational institution in the city, Mr Zelensky said, as well as a neighbouring hospital, trapping people under the rubble. A search and rescue operation was underway.
“My condolences to all the families and friends,” Mr. Zelensky said in a video address. “I am grateful to every person who has been helping the people who are saving lives since the first minutes after the hit.”
Ukraine’s defence ministry reported that the time gap between the sounding of warning sirens and the strike was so short that many people were killed on their way to the shelter. Many people in Poltava have already queued up to give the blood to help the injured, local government reports.
Last week, Russia struck cities across Ukraine with waves of missile and drone attacks, including more than 200 on Aug. 27.
Ukrainian media outlets reported that those who died were cadets of the Communications Institute, lined up for an event. “I have ordered a full and prompt investigation into all the circumstances of what happened,” Mr. Zelensky said.
澤連斯基稱，俄羅斯對烏克蘭軍事教育機構的攻擊造成41人死亡
澤倫斯基總統表示，俄羅斯週二對烏克蘭東部城市波爾塔瓦發動飛彈襲擊，造成至少 41 人死亡，另有 180 人受傷，這是針對烏克蘭城市的一系列毀滅性襲擊中的最新一起。
澤倫斯基說，兩枚彈道飛彈擊中了該市的一所教育機構以及附近的一家醫院，將人們困在廢墟下。 搜救行動正在進行中。
「我向所有家人和朋友表示哀悼，」澤倫斯基在視訊演講中說。 “我感謝從襲擊發生後的第一分鐘起一直在幫助拯救生命的每一個人。”
烏克蘭國防部報告稱，警報響起和襲擊之間的時間間隔非常短，以至於許多人在前往避難所的途中喪生。 根據當地政府報道，波爾塔瓦的許多人已經排隊捐血幫助傷者。
上週，俄羅斯對烏克蘭各地的城市發動了一波又一波的飛彈和無人機襲擊，其中 8 月 27 日襲擊了 200 多個城市。
烏克蘭媒體報道稱，死者是通訊學院的學員，他們正在排隊參加一場活動。 「我已下令對所發生事件的所有情況進行全面、迅速的調查，」澤倫斯基先生說。
Comments