On September 3, Russian forces launched a missile attack on the building of the Institute of Communications in Poltava. As of the morning of September 4, the death toll had risen to 52 people, and another 271 people were injured.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the missile hit the territory of the educational institution and a nearby hospital.
One of the buildings of the Institute of Communications was partially destroyed. People were trapped under the rubble. Many were rescued, – Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko said that rescuers had localized the fire and were clearing the rubble. During the rescue operations, 11 people were rescued.
According to the Ministry of Defense, the enemy used two ballistic missiles. The interval between the alert and the hit was so short that many people were unable to evacuate to bomb shelters.
On the night of September 4, Russia launched a massive attack on Lviv, using missiles, including Daggers, and drones.
Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi reported 7 dead, including three children, including a 9-year-old girl, and 47 wounded, at least 7 of whom were in serious condition.
According to the information, more than 50 residential buildings were damaged in the center of Lviv and near the railway station.
At least seven architectural monuments were damaged in the attack on Lviv. In particular, these are houses on Konovaltsia and Kokorudza streets. All the buildings are located in the historic area and the UNESCO buffer zone.
According to medical officials, 45 people have been hospitalized, including 7 children. Doctors are treating the injured in six operating rooms, saving the lives of critically wounded people.
Reactions of foreign and Ukrainian politicians
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacts to missile attacks on Ukrainian cities and calls for further assistance to ensure the protection of Ukrainian cities.
Every one of our partners around the world who helps Ukraine with air defense is a true defender of life. Anyone who convinces partners to provide Ukraine with more long-range capabilities, enabling us to respond justly to terror, is working to prevent such Russian terrorist strikes on Ukrainian cities. Terror must be stopped, – the President of Ukraine said on social network X.
The U.S. Helsinki Commission also responded to the September 3 missile attack.
Today, Russia struck the Ukrainian city of Poltova in their deadliest attack this year, killing at least 41. We must give Ukraine the equipment they need and permission to strike inside of Russia so that they can stop this horrific bloodshed, – they wrote in X.
Estonian President Alar Karis did not stand aside and responded to the missile attacks on Ukraine:
President of the Republic of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs also responded to the tragic events in Ukraine:
Russia killed 41 people and wounded 180 in a deadly attack in Poltava. Once again, the restrictions imposed on Ukraine on the use of all types of weapons against Russia must be lifted. This is not about escalation, but about the survival of innocent people.
The former commander of the U.S. Forces Europe, General Ben Hodges, reacted to a recent statement by the U.S. Mission to NATO, which indicated support for Ukraine through the provision of additional air defense systems and a change in the priority of U.S. air defense exports in favor of Ukraine.
Hodges criticized these statements, saying:
Unfortunately, ballistic missiles hitting peaceful cities, dozens of deaths, and among them – children sleeping in their beds… These tragic events are becoming commonplace for the world. The world is getting used to the war in Ukraine. For us, the death of a child is a tragedy, whereas for many in the world, it is just a statistic. Everyone who supports Ukraine should continue to tell about the terrible consequences of the war, – said Volodymyr Savchenko, the head of The Ukrainian Review.
The presidents of the world’s leading countries (Joe Biden, Olaf Scholz, Emmanuel Macron), British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, and heads of international organizations, including Ursula von der Leyen, have not yet commented on the attacks on Poltava and Lviv.
Kateryna Yashchuk
