Russian missile strike on Poltava: Devastation and mourning
The Russians struck Poltava. Two ballistic missiles hit the Ukrainian city. "There was an alarm, a minute passed, and one or two explosions occurred immediately. All the windows were blown out, including those in the stairwell," Olena said in an interview with Suspilne.
According to the latest reports, at least 51 people were killed, and over 200 were injured in Tuesday's attack. However, this number is still rising, as the rescue operation has been underway for several hours.
According to the British BBC, the target of the Russian attack on Poltava in eastern Ukraine was the Poltava Military Institute of Communications. Ukrainian military sources reported that one of the Institute's buildings was partially destroyed.
Photos of the damaged building are being published on the internet. They show damage on the four upper floors of the five-storey building.
However, the missiles also hit a school and a hospital. "The time gap between the alarm and the arrival of the deadly missiles was so short that they caught people while evacuating to the shelter," the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine said in a statement.
"There was an alarm, a minute passed, and one or two explosions occurred immediately"
Residents recounted the dramatic moments in an interview with Ukrainian TV Suspilne. They told journalists that they heard two explosions. "The glass in the windows was completely shattered, and the fridge was turned upside down. Everything that was standing inside is now lying on the floor. Only now am I beginning to realize what could have happened," said one of the district's residents where the attack occurred.
Another resident recounted that she hid in the bathroom with her child during the explosions. "There was an alarm. A minute passed, and one or two explosions occurred immediately. We thought it hit our house. All the windows were blown out, including those in the stairwell," said Olena.
The regional authorities announced a three-day mourning period
Residents are donating blood to help the injured, reported the head of the Poltava region, Filip Pronin. He called the attack "a terrible day for the region."
"All the relevant services are working on-site. The coordinated actions of rescuers and medics saved many lives today. Many residents of Poltava are donating blood to help the injured," he wrote on social media. The regional authorities announced a three-day mourning period.
