Russian Missile Strike on Poltava: Death Toll Rises to 14, Including 2 Children

The death toll from the Russian missile strike on Poltava has increased to 14, including two children, according to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (SES) and regional authorities.

The attack, which occurred on the morning of February 1, targeted a residential building, causing significant destruction and casualties.

Rescue operations continue as emergency services work to clear the debris. The SES reported that 17 people sustained injuries, including four children. Among the injured are infants and young children aged three months, two, eight, and twelve years old. Emergency teams have managed to rescue 22 people from the site of the attack. Psychological assistance has been provided to nearly 200 affected individuals.

Authorities identified the missile used in the strike as a Kh-22, the same type that hit the Amstor shopping center in Kremenchuk in June 2022. The impact led to the collapse of five floors of the building and a fire at the site. Damage was reported in nearly 20 surrounding apartment buildings, as well as a nearby kindergarten. Over 250 apartments sustained damage, with more than 350 windows shattered and 190 balconies destroyed.

Local officials stated that search-and-rescue operations remain ongoing, as individuals may still be trapped under the rubble. The acting head of the Poltava Regional Military Administration, Volodymyr Kohut, confirmed that five people are currently considered missing.

In response to the attack, authorities in Poltava have declared three days of mourning from February 2 to 4, with Ukrainian flags to be flown at half-mast as a mark of respect for the victims.