Ukraine war latest: Nearly 50 killed in double missile strike as Putin launches one of deadliest attacks of war (2024)

Iran's support for Russia enabled its missile attack on Poltava today, a Ukrainian politician has said.

Lisa Yasko, a member of the Ukrainian parliament, told Sky News that Ukraine's allies need to step up cooperation to stop countries "who continue to trade with Russia".

"These ballistic air missiles that Russia was using today, against Poltava... can reach the target in a few minutes.

"Iran is providing more and more weapons to Russia so that they can make such attacks possible.

"We need to, with all international different cooperation, make sure that Russia is not technically capable to have such weapons, to have such missiles," she said.

Defence cooperation between Iran and Russia has intensified since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 - but Tehran has previously denied sending missiles and drones to Moscow for use in the war.

As we've been reporting this afternoon, dozens of people have been killed after Russia struck a hospital and educational institution in Poltava with ballistic missiles.

The strike in the city, which lies around 70 miles from the Russian border in central Ukraine, appears to be one of the deadliest of the war.

Footage and images, which Sky News has geolocated to Poltava, have emerged on social media of the destruction caused by the deadly attack:

The number of people killed and injured in the Russian missile strike on Poltava has risen, according to Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska.

She said in a post to X that 47 people were dead and 206 wounded.

Earlier, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at least 41 people had been killed and 180 injured.

"My deepest condolences to the relatives of those killed and injured as a result of the Russian rocket attack on Poltava," she wrote.

"This is a stunning tragedy for all of Ukraine. The enemy hit an educational institution and a hospital.

"It is already known about 47 dead and 206 wounded. Russia is taking away the most valuable thing from us - life. We will never forget this. Eternal memory."

The Ukrainian defence minister met his UK counterpart in London today as the government signed off its latest round of military aid.

Rustem Umerov met Defence Secretary John Healey in Whitehall as the £300m contract announced back in July was officially signed.

The UK is now part of a nine-country network called the International Fund for Ukraine (IFU), which has pledged to support the country's fight against Vladimir Putin's forces.

The latest contract, which will supply Ukraine's Soviet-era guns with 152mm artillery shells, was announced at a NATO summit earlier this summer and will be with troops by the end of the year.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has incessantly called for Ukraine's allies to step up military support, urging in his video response to the Poltava missile attack (see 1.27 post): "Ukraine needs air defence systems and missiles now, not sitting in storage.

"Long-range strikes that can protect us from Russian terror are needed now, not later."

Since taking office, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed the UK will send £3bn in military aid to Ukraine every year for "as long as it takes".

Defence Secretary, John Healey, said: "UK military equipment continues to prove invaluable for Ukraine's war effort.

"The ongoing defensive operation in Kursk underlines the crucial importance of continued support. And today's milestone shows the value of working with our allies to deliver that support.

"Our government is stepping up Britain's support for Ukraine to fight Putin's illegal invasion."

Poltava regional leader Philip Pronin has announced three days of mourning after at least 41 people were killed in this morning's Russian strike.

In a post to Telegram, Mr Pronin called the attack a "great tragedy" for the region "and the entire country".

"From tomorrow, the region will be in three days of mourning," he said.

"Bright memory to all the dead."

Away from the deadly strike, the UN nuclear chief is visiting the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant today.

Rafael Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, arrived in Ukraine today - a week after he visited a nuclear plant in the Russian region of Kursk, where Ukraine invaded in a surprise a counteroffensive last month.

He met energy minister Herman Galuschenko and Petro Kotin, head of the state nuclear power company Energoatom, in Kyiv.

Mr Grossi said the UN agency remains "fully committed to the safety and security of Ukrainian nuclear sites with presence at each" in a post on X.

Russia has occupied the Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe's largest, since the beginning of the war.

Ukraine says Russian attacks damaged two external overhead lines connecting the plant to the grid on Monday.

Russia, meanwhile, said its plant in Kursk has been repeatedly attacked by Ukrainian forces.

Military analyst Sean Bellsays the deadly strike on Poltava shows Vladimir Putin's priority lies within Ukraine, not the incursion by Kyiv into Russian territory.

"It is not a great surprise that Russia is responding [to the Kursk incursion] by putting as many missiles it can into Ukrainian territory, not all of those appear to be against military targets."

Bell continued: "All of this coincides with the start of the school terms in Ukraine.

"Despite the fact Ukrainians have been pushing into Kursk, despite the fact they have been launching a lot of long-range missiles into Russia, it is pretty clear where President Putin's priority is at the moment - that is the 'special military operation' and seizing the area of the Donbas that he does not yet have."

Here's the latest territorial picture on the ground in Ukraine...

The Ukrainian president posted this statement on X after learning of the strike:

I received preliminary reports on the Russian strike in Poltava.

According to available information, two ballistic missiles hit the area. They targeted an educational institution and a nearby hospital, partially destroying one of the telecommunications institute's buildings.

People were trapped under the rubble. Many people were rescued, but more than 180 were injured. Unfortunately, there are many casualties. As of now, we know that 41 people were killed.

My deepest condolences to all of their relatives and loved ones. I ordered a full and prompt investigation into all of the circ*mstances of what happened.

All necessary services are involved in the rescue operation. I am grateful to everyone who has been helping and saving lives from the very first moments following the strike.

The Russian scum will surely pay for this strike.

We continue to urge everyone in the world who has the power to stop this terror: Ukraine needs air defence systems and missiles now, not sitting in storage.

Long-range strikes that can protect us from Russian terror are needed now, not later. Every day of delay, unfortunately, means more lost lives. Eternal memory to all those whose lives were taken by Russia.

As his forces bombard Ukraine, Vladimir Putin is on a visit to Mongolia, flouting an International Criminal Court arrest warrant that was issued last year for alleged war crimes.

He arrived in the country yesterday and in theory should have been put in handcuffs as he landed, because Mongolia is a member of the court.

The Russian leader is wanted by the court for the alleged illegal deportation of Ukrainian children.

Instead, in a lavish welcome ceremony today, he was greeted in the main square of the capital city, Ulaanbaatar, by President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh.

A small group of protesters who tried to unfurl a Ukrainian flag before the welcome ceremony were taken away by police.

More than 50 Russians outside the country had signed an open letter urging the government of Mongolia to "immediately detain Vladimir Putin upon his arrival" - but it is not quite that simple.

Although Mongolia is a member of the ICC and is bound to detain suspects if an arrest warrant has been issued, it is a landlocked country highly dependent on Russia for fuel and some of its electricity.

Our Moscow correspondent Ivor Bennett explains more here:

Two ballistic missiles have killed 41 people and injured 180 in Poltava, central Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.

The attack - on an education and hospital facility - is one of the deadliest carried out by Russia since it invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

It happened this morning in the city of Poltava, which also gives its name to the surrounding region - around 70 miles from the Russian border and 200 miles southeast of Kyiv.

Medics saved 25 people from the building, 11 of which were pulled from the rubble, according to Ukraine's defence ministry.

"One of the buildings of the Institute of Communications was partially destroyed," Mr Zelenskyy said in a video on X.

"People found themselves under the rubble. Many were saved.

"All necessary services are involved in the rescue operation," he added.

He said he had ordered "a full and prompt investigation" into what happened.