Russian Ballistic Missile Attack Kills 50 People, President Zelensky: Will Definitely Be Accounted

Illustration of the impact of Russian airstrikes on Ukraine. (Wikimedia Commons/Kharkivoda.gov.ua)

JAKARTA - At least 50 people were killed and 271 injured as Russia attacked Ukrainian military agencies in Poltava City with two ballistic missiles on Tuesday.

Photographs posted on social media showed several bodies of youths lying on ground covered in dust and debris, with the sides of large buildings badly damaged behind them.

"Russian trash will definitely be held accountable for this attack," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on the Telegram messaging app.

He ordered an immediate investigation, saying the attack damaged a building of the Military Communication Institute.

In his evening video address, President Zelensky said the death toll reached 51 people.

"It is known that there are people under the rubble of the destroyed buildings," he said.

"Any effort is made to save as many lives as possible," President Zelensky continued.

Emergency services said the death toll was 50. Regional Police Governor Filip Pronin said 15 people may still be buried in the rubble.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesman Dmytro Lazutkin told national TV classes at the agency were underway at the time of the attack. He said the alarm went off at 9:08 p.m. local time, prompting people to rush to the shelter.

"A few minutes after the air warning, the explosion was heard," he said, adding that no parade was taking place at the time.

Separately, the Ukrainian army said its personnel were killed as a result of the attack. They did not say how many victims came from the armed forces, but the attack was a crushing blow to Kyiv who was trying to strengthen his ranks to contain stronger enemies.

"The Army Command is conducting an investigation to determine whether there has been enough to protect the lives and health of the soldiers at the facility," a statement said.

The use of ballistic missiles - which hit hundreds of kilometers away in the minutes after launch - left victims with little time to seek cover after airstrike sirens rang, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Russia did not immediately comment on the attack. On the other hand, Russia is known to have intensified its missile and drone attacks on Ukraine 2.5 years after the full-scale war began.

Earlier, Ukraine targeted Russia with more than 158 drones over the weekend, damaging oil refineries near Moscow and a power plant.

This is not the first time Russia has attacked a military facility far from the front lines, which has caused heavy casualties.

In May 2022, Russia announced an attack on a training ground for reserve forces in Desna City, where Ukraine said 87 people were killed.

Earlier, 35 people were killed in Russian attacks on military bases in the western part of the country in March of the same year.