At Least 50 Killed in Russian Strike on Poltava

In the deadliest attack of the year, a Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Poltava left at least 50 dead and 271 injured. Ukrainian President Zelenskyj reported the strike targeted a military training center and a hospital. Ballistic missiles gave victims little time to seek shelter following the air raid alarm. Images on social media depicted young men lying amidst rubble. With rescue operations ongoing, the death toll is at 50, as reported by rescue teams, with 15 possibly still under debris. Ukraine’s military acknowledged service members were among the dead, without providing figures. Zelenskyj condemned Russia’s actions and called for more Western air defenses and the use of long-range weapons. He stressed the need for immediate support, linking delays to further casualties. This comes amid continued Russian offensives throughout Ukraine and claims by Putin of Russian territorial gains.