KYIV – A Russian missile attack on Tuesday resulted in the deaths of at least 41 people and injuries to over 180 others when a military institute in the central town of Poltava was hit, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This marks one of the deadliest individual strikes of the ongoing war.

In a video announcement, Zelenskyy stated that Russian forces targeted the Military Institute of Communications using two ballistic missiles, significantly damaging its infrastructure.

He has called for a thorough and immediate investigation into the events surrounding the attack.

Zelenskyy expressed on the Telegram messaging app, “The Russian criminals will surely face consequences for this attack.”

He reiterated his request for increased Western air defense systems and urged allies to permit the use of long-range weapons for strikes further into Russian territory to enhance Ukraine’s protection.

“We keep informing everyone capable of stopping this violence: Ukraine needs air defense systems and missiles, not sit idle in storage,” he emphasized.

“Long-range capabilities are essential to shield us from Russian aggression now, not later. Each day of hesitation leads to more lives lost.”

(Reported by Olena Harmash and Anastasiia Malenko; Edited by Mike Collett-White and Peter Graff)