The death toll from the new Russian strike in the Ukrainian city of Poltava rises to 47, with the injured reaching 206.
As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky informed, two Russian ballistic missiles hit an educational facility and a nearby hospital in the central region of Ukraine, in the Poltava region.
At the same time, Volodymyr Zelensky stated that “I ordered a full and immediate investigation into all the circumstances of what happened. All necessary services are involved in the rescue operation. I am grateful to everyone who helped and saved lives from the first moment after the strike.”
He also promised to hold Russia to account and once again called on Kiev’s Western allies to urgently deliver more air defense systems and allow Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory with long-range missiles.
The authorities have already declared three days of mourning for the victims.
The blow comes after several 24 hours of mass drone bombing mainly against the Ukrainian capital.
“It happened when people were going to the underground shelter”
According to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, the strike occurred within a very short period of time after the incoming missile warning alarm was activated. “It happened when people were going to the underground shelter,” he said.
“Thanks to the coordinated work of rescuers and doctors, 25 people were rescued, 11 of whom were freed from the debris, rescuers are currently continuing their work,” the ministry added.
Ukrainian military bloggers, for their part, claimed the missiles were aimed at an official outdoor military ceremony.
russia launched two ballistic missiles city of Poltava, Ukraine, killing at least 41 and injuring 180 people. pic.twitter.com/Goxkwk4ljw
— Kate from Kharkiv (@BohuslavskaKate) September 3, 2024
In another development, the US is close to a deal to give Ukraine long-range cruise missiles that could reach deep into Russia, but Kiev will have to wait several months as the US works out technical issues before any deployment. This was revealed by American officials to Reuters.
The inclusion of the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) in an armaments package is expected to be announced this fall, three sources said, although a final decision has not been made.
The USA may transfer long-range JASSM missiles to Ukraine, Reuters has quoted US officials as saying
A decision is expected in the fall, with delivery possible a few months after that. No final decision has been made yet, and it is unclear whether restrictions on strikes on… pic.twitter.com/plMVvObXfy
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) September 3, 2024
The deployment of JASSM missiles to Ukraine could significantly change the playing field of the conflict by making more of Russian territory the target of Ukrainian precision weapons strikes, a development that has raised concerns in the Biden administration, officials said.
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