Rescue workers clear debris from a destroyed floor of a military academy struck by Russian missiles in Poltava, Ukraine, on Sept. 3.DAVID GUTTENFELDER/The New York Times News Service
The death toll from a Russian missile strike on a military institute in the east central Ukrainian town of Poltava on Tuesday rose to 55 as the rescue operation was completed, the emergency service said on Thursday.
Moscow’s troops hit the educational facility with two extremely hard-to-intercept ballistic missiles, and the Ukrainian officials said people barely had time to seek shelter.
The deadliest single attack of this year wounded 328 others, the emergency service added on the Telegram messaging app. Regional governor Filip Pronin said 27 people were in intensive care.
One of the deadliest Russian strikes so far leaves at least 51 Ukrainians dead
The rescue operation continued for three days but had to be stopped due to new air raid alerts, officials said. Experts were now working to identify bodies’ remains.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said the strike targeted soldiers and foreign instructors.
Ukraine’s land forces said that military personnel had been killed in the strike but did not provide details.
Moscow’s troops stepped up missile strikes on Ukraine in recent weeks attacking energy infrastructure and civilian facilities.
The day after the deadly Poltava attack, Russian drones and missiles hit the Ukrainian western city of Lviv, close to the border with NATO member Poland. Seven people were killed, including four from the same family, leaving only the father alive.
Video posted on social media and verified by Reuters shows the scale of destruction after Russia struck a military institute in the central town of Poltava with missiles, killing dozens and wounding more than 200, Ukraine's first lady said.
Reuters