On Tuesday, September 3, the city of Poltava was struck by Russian bombings targeting a higher education institute, marking one of the deadliest assaults Ukraine has endured since the onset of the Russian invasion.
The Russian military bombarded the Institute of Communication Studies in Poltava. Preliminary reports indicate that at least 51 people have been killed, nearly 200 injured, and some remain trapped beneath the debris, according to the Ministry of Defense. The press release details that two ballistic missiles were employed in the attack, with the interval between the air raid alert and the impact so brief that it left little time for evacuation.
The bombing resulted in the partial destruction of one of the institute’s buildings. Emergency teams have rescued 25 individuals, including 11 who were extricated from the rubble. President Volodymyr Zelensky has noted that the assault affected both the educational facility and a nearby hospital.
Ihor Klymenko, head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, reported that a residential area was located in close proximity to the site of the strike. The blast wave shattered windows and damaged the facades of high-rise buildings in the vicinity. An operational headquarters has been established in Poltava, where it has been confirmed that over ten residential buildings sustained damage.
The threat of ballistic missiles is particularly severe due to their rapid impact, often reaching their target within minutes. This leaves insufficient time for individuals to react and seek shelter. Upon receiving intelligence about missile launches or imminent attacks, the Air Force issues immediate alerts. Most Ukrainians are equipped with mobile apps designed to warn them of such threats. While Kyiv benefits from relatively robust air defences, the situation in frontline regions is considerably more perilous. Missiles, including Iskander M, Kinzhal, and S300/400 systems, continue to inflict civilian casualties in areas such as Sumy, Poltava, Dnipro, Kherson, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia.
On September 4, the Poltava region will enter a three-day period of mourning to honour the victims of the Russian assault on the Institute of Communications, announced Pylyp Pronin, head of the Poltava regional administration.
The city was struck by three devastating explosions at 9 a.m., with official reports only emerging three hours later. In response, residents of Poltava are queuing at the local blood transfusion centre to donate blood for the injured, with local media reporting that the number of wounded is in the dozens.
