Dozens killed in Russian strike on military educational facility in central Ukraine

Source: CNN

Dozens killed in Russian strike on military educational facility in central Ukraine
By Ivana Kottasová and Kosta Gak, CNN
3 minute read * Updated 10:02 AM EDT, Tue September 3, 2024

(CNN) — A Russian strike against a military educational facility in central Ukraine killed 47 people and injured at least 206 others, according to Ukrainian officials, in one of the deadliest single attacks since the start of Moscow’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. ... President Volodymyr Zelensky said preliminary information indicated two ballistic missiles hit the facility in the city of Poltava and a nearby hospital on Tuesday morning.

“We say again and again to everyone in the world who has the power to stop this terror: air defense systems and missiles are needed in Ukraine, not somewhere in a warehouse,” Zelensky said in a statement. ... Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska announced the latest death toll in an update on Tuesday afternoon, adding: “This is a terrible tragedy for the whole of Ukraine. Russia is taking away our most valuable asset – our lives. We will never forget this.”

Speaking about the attack, President Zelensky repeated his call on Ukraine’s Western allies to supply Kyiv with more air defenses and lift restrictions on his country’s military using their weapons to strike inside Russia. ... “Long-range strikes that can protect against Russian terror are needed now, not later. Every day of delay is, unfortunately, the death of people,” he added.

Speaking to CNN’s Christiane Amanpour in Kyiv, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the missile reached the target in a very short period of time. People were struck down as they were trying to get into the bomb shelter, officials said. ... “The only way to intercept them was to have the Patriot system or a SAMP/T air defense system because they are the only one capable of intercepting ballistic missiles,” said Kuleba, who added that he originally came from the Poltava region.

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Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/03/europe/ukraine-poltava-russia-attack-intl/index.html