September 2024 Poltava strike
{{Short description|none}}
{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox military attack
| title = September 2024 Poltava strike
| partof = the Russian invasion of Ukraine
|image = {{Photomontage | size = 250 | position = center | spacing = 2 | color = #f9f9f9 | border = 0
| photo1a = Destructions in Poltava after Russian attack, 2024-09-03 (21).webp
| photo2a = Destructions in Poltava after Russian attack, 2024-09-03 (11).webp
| photo2b = Destructions in Poltava after Russian attack, 2024-09-03 (12).webp
| photo3a = Destructions in Poltava after Russian attack, 2024-09-03 (22).webp
| photo3b = Destructions in Poltava after Russian attack, 2024-09-03 (01).webp
| photo4a = Destructions in Poltava after Russian attack, 2024-09-03 (23).webp}}
| image_size =
| caption = Emergency rescue and search operations after the strike
| location = Poltava, Poltava Oblast, Ukraine
| target =
| date = 3 September 2024
| time =
| timezone =
| type = Missile strike
| fatalities = 74 missing and
| injuries = 328
| executed_by = Russian Armed Forces
| motive =
}}
{{Campaignbox Russian invasion of Ukraine}}
On 3 September 2024, two Russian missiles hit a branch of the Military Institute of Telecommunications and Information Technologies and a nearby hospital in Poltava, Ukraine,{{Cite news |date=3 September 2024 |title=Deadliest Russian Missile Strike This Year Highlights Ukraine's Air-Defense Shortage |url=https://www.wsj.com/world/deadly-russian-missile-attack-highlights-ukraines-air-defense-shortages-a6c32d03 |access-date=3 September 2024 |work=The Wall Street Journal}} killing at least 59 and injuring at least 328.{{cite news |last=Fornusek |first=Martin |title=Death toll from Russia's Sept. 3 strike on Poltava rises to 55 |url=https://kyivindependent.com/death-toll-in-poltava-rises/ |website=The Kyiv Independent|date=5 September 2024 |accessdate=5 September 2024}} According to president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a building in the military institute was "partially destroyed".{{Cite news |date=3 September 2024 |title=Live Updates: Russian Strike Kills More Than 50 in Ukraine, Zelensky Says |quote=The strike hit the Institute of Communications, a military academy in Poltava in eastern Ukraine, President Zelensky said in a video posted to his Telegram channel. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/09/03/world/ukraine-russia-missile-strike-poltava/3cf09d5f-f67a-5184-9c7e-27229cced6dc |access-date=3 September 2024 |work=The New York Times}} It was the deadliest attack in Poltava Oblast during the Russo-Ukrainian War.
Attack
The attack occurred shortly after 09:08 and damaged ten other buildings. According to authorities (as of 3 October), 59 people were known to have died and more than 300 were injured. Additionally, 16 were reported missing (on 5 September, when 54 people were known to be killed).{{cite web|url=https://poltava.to/news/77913/|title=У Полтаві завершили аварійно-рятувальні роботи на місці ракетного удару по по Інституту зв'язку|date=5 September 2024|language=Ukrainian|work=Poltava News}}
The Office of the Prosecutor General said that "One of the buildings of the Institute of Communications, a hospital and nearby houses were partially destroyed".{{cite news |title=PGO: Death toll in Poltava increases to 51 |url=https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/1011434.html |agency=Interfax-Ukraine |date=3 September 2024}} Emergency services rescued 25 people, including 11 who were trapped under the rubble of the affected buildings.{{Cite web |author=Hodunova |first=Kateryna |date=3 September 2024 |title=Russia strikes Poltava with ballistic missiles, killing at least 47, injuring over 200 |url=https://kyivindependent.com/russia-strikes-poltava-with-ballistic-missiles-killing-41-injuring-over-180/ |access-date=3 September 2024 |website=The Kyiv Independent |language=en |archive-date=3 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240903134410/https://kyivindependent.com/russia-strikes-poltava-with-ballistic-missiles-killing-41-injuring-over-180/ |url-status=live }} The Ukrainian defence ministry said that the interval between activation of air raid sirens and the arrival of the missiles was too short to allow people to safely reach bomb shelters.{{Cite web |date=3 September 2024 |title=Zelensky Says 41 Killed, 180 Injured in Russian Attack on Poltava |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/09/03/zelensky-says-41-killed-180-injured-in-russian-attack-on-poltava-a86241 |access-date=3 September 2024 |website=The Moscow Times |archive-date=3 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240903190759/https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/09/03/russian-strike-kills-dozens-in-ukrainian-city-a86241 |url-status=live }} The ministry added that the attack occurred while classes were ongoing.{{Cite web |date=3 September 2024 |title=Russia strikes Poltava with ballistic missiles, killing at least 49, injuring over 200 |url=https://kyivindependent.com/russia-strikes-poltava-with-ballistic-missiles-killing-41-injuring-over-180/ |access-date=3 September 2024 |website=The Kyiv Independent |archive-date=3 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240903134410/https://kyivindependent.com/russia-strikes-poltava-with-ballistic-missiles-killing-41-injuring-over-180/ |url-status=live }}
Responses
=Ukraine=
President Zelenskyy ordered an investigation into the attack, and called on Western nations to ensure the arrival of missiles and air defence systems. He also said Russia will "surely pay" for the attack.{{Cite web |date=3 September 2024 |title=At least 51 killed in Russian missile strike on Ukraine's Poltava |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/3/ukraines-zelenskky-says-41-killed-in-russian-missile-strike-on-poltava |access-date=3 September 2024 |website=Al Jazeera |archive-date=3 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240903190802/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/3/ukraines-zelenskky-says-41-killed-in-russian-missile-strike-on-poltava |url-status=live }} Philip Pronin, the governor of Poltava Oblast, announced three days of mourning beginning on 4 September.{{Cite news |last1=O'Grady |first1=Siobhán |last2=Hassan |first2=Jennifer |date=3 September 2024 |title=Dozens killed in Russian missile strike on Ukrainian city of Poltava |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/09/03/russian-missile-strike-poltava/ |access-date=3 September 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post |issn=0190-8286}}
Maryana Bezuhla, a deputy in the Verkhovna Rada, accused Ukraine's military leadership of putting soldiers in danger.{{cite news |title=Ukraine says soldiers among 51 killed in Poltava missile attack |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1m0ylnkylko |work=BBC News |date=3 September 2024 |access-date=3 September 2024 |archive-date=3 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240903190803/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1m0ylnkylko |url-status=live }}
=Russia=
The Russian defence ministry said that it had struck a drone and electronic warfare training center during the attack.{{cite news |title=Russian Military Says Targeted Drone Training Center in Poltava Attack |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/09/04/russian-military-says-targeted-drone-training-center-in-poltava-attack-a86253 |work=The Moscow Times |date=4 September 2024 |access-date=4 September 2024 }}
=International=
The attack was condemned by Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States, with President Joe Biden describing the incident as "deplorable".
References
{{Reflist|refs=
{{cite web |url=https://www.rfi.fr/ru/украина/20241003-953-й-день-полномасштабной-войны-россии-против-украины-онлайн-rfi |title=Новый генсек НАТО прибыл в Киев. 953-й день полномасштабной войны России против Украины. Онлайн RFI |date=2024-10-03 |publisher=Radio France Internationale |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241003171956/https://www.rfi.fr/ru/%D1%83%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B0/20241003-953-%D0%B9-%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8C-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%88%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%B1%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B9-%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B9%D0%BD%D1%8B-%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%B8-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B2-%D1%83%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%8B-%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B9%D0%BD-rfi |archive-date=2024-10-03 |language=ru |url-status=live}}
}}
{{Russian invasion of Ukraine}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Poltava strike}}
Category:2024 building bombings
Category:Attacks on military installations in Ukraine
Category:Russian airstrikes during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Category:Poltava Oblast in the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Category:School bombings in Ukraine
Category:Attacks on military installations in 2024
Category:Attacks on hospitals during the Russo-Ukrainian War
Category:Attacks on hospitals in Ukraine
Category:University and college killings in Europe
Category:September 2024 crimes in Europe
Category:Attacks on schools in 2024
Category:Military operations of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2024