Russian Double-Tap Strike Kills Rescuers in Poltava as Nationwide Drone and Missile Attacks Hit Ukraine

A Russian overnight missile and drone attack on Ukraine’s Poltava region turned deadly after a second strike hit emergency responders, killing five people—including three rescuers—and injuring dozens more, according to regional military administration head Vitalii Dyakovnych on May 5.

Russian forces struck the area with missiles and attack drones, hitting two locations in the Poltava district. The attack damaged an industrial facility and railway infrastructure, leaving 3,480 consumers without a gas supply. At least 37 people were reported injured, according to Ukraine’s largest national oil and gas company Naftogaz.

Ukraine’s Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said the initial strike targeted a gas production site. When emergency crews arrived to extinguish a large fire, Russian forces launched a second attack directly at the scene.

“These were Deputy Head of the Operational Coordination Center of the State Emergency Service in Poltava region Viktor Kuzmenko—a Hero of Ukraine —and firefighter-rescuer Dmytro Skryl,” Klymenko said, confirming that two experienced rescuers were among those killed.

Klymenko noted that Kuzmenko had led rescue operations after previous strikes and helped save lives during a major attack on Poltava in 2024, while Skryl had more than 20 years of service, repeatedly responding to complex fires at critical infrastructure sites.

Two additional civilians were killed in the repeated strike, while eight others were wounded. In total, 23 rescuers were injured, with several victims reported in critical condition.

Across the country, Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia launched 11 Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 164 drones overnight. Air defenses intercepted most of the incoming threats, but multiple strikes and falling debris were recorded.

In the Dnipropetrovsk region, two people were injured, and homes were damaged, according to regional head Oleksandr Hancha.

In the Kyiv region, three people were wounded, with damage reported to residential buildings and industrial facilities, said regional chief Mykola Kalashnyk.

Further south, in Zaporizhzhia, three people were killed, and another was injured, regional head Ivan Fedorov reported.

In the Chernihiv region, two men were wounded after a strike hit residential areas, according to emergency services.

Earlier, Russian forces launched a large wave of drone and artillery strikes across multiple regions of Ukraine on May 1, targeting civilian infrastructure, residential areas, and commercial facilities. Regional authorities reported injuries and significant damage across Ternopil, Vinnytsia, Odesa, and Kherson.

One of the heaviest strikes was recorded in western Ukraine’s Ternopil region. Over 50 “Shahed” strike drones targeted the city, resulting in more than 20 explosions.

10 people were injured in the attack, including some in serious condition. All victims were receiving medical care, and no fatalities have been reported.

On the Frontline of Truth

Our reporters work on the frontlines to show what’s really happening in Ukraine. Your support helps them keep reporting.

SUPPORT