On Tuesday, Russia launched two ballistic missiles targeting the city of Poltava in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that the attack resulted in the deaths of 51 people and left 271 injured.
In a video message, Zelensky stated that Russia targeted an educational institute and a hospital. A building suffered significant damage, and several civilians were trapped under the debris. Following the attack, a three-day mourning period was declared in Poltava.
Ukraine’s Defense Ministry Statement
Ukraine’s Defense Ministry reported that there was a very short time between the alert sirens and the missile attack. People were heading towards bomb shelters when the missiles struck. Rescue teams managed to save 25 people, 11 of whom were trapped under the rubble.
Russia’s Claim: Targeted a Military Training Center
Meanwhile, a Russian Telegram channel claimed that the ballistic missiles were aimed at a Ukrainian military training center. The channel stated that those who died were Ukrainian trainee soldiers. According to the BBC, the missile used in the attack was the Iskander-M, which has a range of 500 kilometers.
Context of the Attack
This is the first large-scale attack on a Ukrainian city by Russia since Ukraine launched multiple attacks on Russian territory in August. The attack comes after Zelensky’s statement on August 31, where he expressed the desire to carry out more strikes deeper into Russia. According to Reuters, Zelensky said that attacks on Ukraine could only be stopped if Ukraine targeted Russian airfields and military bases.
Zelensky’s Strategy: Striking Deeper into Russia
Zelensky stated, “The only way to remove Russian bombs from Ukrainian skies is to intensify our attacks on them. This will force Russia to take steps towards ending the war and moving towards peace. To defend Ukraine, we need long-range missiles and the authorization to use them against Russia.”
Ukraine’s Advance into Russian Territory
For the first time in the 2.5-year-long Russia-Ukraine war, on August 6, 2024, Ukraine managed to capture the Kursk region of Russia. Since then, Ukraine has been continuously attacking Russia. According to an RT report, in the span of 20 days, Ukrainian attacks have resulted in the deaths of 31 Russian civilians.
Ukraine’s Territorial Gains in Russia
For the first time since World War II, a foreign power has occupied Russian territory. Within two weeks, Ukraine claimed to have seized 1,263 square kilometers of Russian territory. Ukraine asserts that it has captured more land in these two weeks than Russia did in the first eight months of 2024.
However, political expert Tatiana Stanovaya suggests that Russia is repeating its World War II strategy, where it allows the enemy to advance inward and then encircles and attacks them. This strategy could turn Ukraine’s Kursk campaign into a setback for Zelensky.
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