At least 41 people have been killed and over 180 injured in Ukraine’s Poltava after two Russian ballistic missiles struck a military education facility today. According to Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence, the missiles hit both a hospital and an educational institution, causing significant damage to one of the institute’s buildings.

The Ministry of Defence added that the short interval between the alarm and the missile strikes left many people caught in the midst of evacuating to safety.

In a statement on social media platform X, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the attack, noting that the missiles targeted an educational institution and a nearby hospital, partially destroying one of the telecommunications institute’s buildings. He reported that many people are feared trapped under the debris, and while 41 have been confirmed dead, more than 180 others have been injured. Rescue operations are ongoing, and several individuals have been saved.

President Zelenskyy expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and emphasized that a full-scale investigation into the attack is underway. He praised the efforts of those who immediately assisted after the strikes, stating, “I am grateful to everyone who has been helping and saving lives from the very first moments following the strike.”

In his message, Zelenskyy also vowed that Russia would be held accountable for this attack, which he described as a “terror attack.” He urged the international community to act swiftly to provide Ukraine with air defense systems and long-range missiles, stressing that delays result in more lost lives. “Ukraine needs these defenses now, not later,” he wrote.