Deadly Rocket and Drone Attacks Strengthen Ukraine’s Fight Against Russian Aggression

[Updated at 15:34]: According to the National Police, the death toll in Poltava has escalated to seven, with 14 others injured. Emergency and rescue operations are underway, involving over 460 rescuers, security forces, and utility workers.

Trained search dogs from the State Emergency Service are assisting, and nearly 100 units of equipment are operational.

The regional military administration (OVA) has declared a three-day mourning period from February 2 to 4 in Poltava to honor the fallen heroes. The OVA’s report specifies that two patrol officers were killed in a Russian airstrike in Yunakivska, with a third officer’s body found among the rubble.

Poltava Attack Claims Casualties, Injures Dozens

[Updated at 14:27]: As of 14:00, the National Police reported an increase in the death toll from the rocket attack on a residential building in Poltava. The incident has resulted in five deaths and 13 injuries, including three children. Twenty-two people have been rescued, and emergency and utility services, along with volunteers, are still actively working at the scene.

President Zelensky Responds to Russian Aggression

President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the attack on Telegram, denouncing it as another terrorist crime. He expressed condolences to the families of the victims in Poltava, Kharkiv, and Sumy, mentioning that attacks in these regions have resulted in the deaths of two people and injuries to six others.

Zelensky also highlighted damage in Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, Sumy, Kharkiv, Khmelnytsky, and Kyiv, emphasizing the urgency for more air defense systems to combat Russian terrorism.

“Every air defense system, every anti-missile is a lifesaver,” Zelensky emphasized, urging partners to fulfill commitments and increase pressure on Russia.

Poltava Under Siege: Two Explosions Devastate residential areas

The Poltava attack began on the evening of January 31 with drone strikes, followed by missile strikes on the morning of February 1. At around 7:00 a.m., an air alert was issued in eastern Ukraine and expanded nationwide.

The first explosion at approximately 7:07 a.m. caused damage to energy infrastructure, leaving 164 households and one business without power.

A second explosion occurred at 7:44 a.m., striking a residential building. The State Emergency Service reported that a Russian missile hit a five-story apartment building, destroying an entire entrance from the first to the fifth floor and igniting a blaze.

Three people were killed, including a child, with ten others injured. Emergency services rescued 21 people, and neighboring buildings and 12 cars were also damaged.

Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia Face Russian Attacks

Kharkiv also faced attacks from Russian forces on February 1. At around 7:30 a.m., regional governor Oleh Synehubov confirmed multiple strikes in the Kharkivsky and Berestynsky districts.

In Kharkiv’s Kholodnohirsky district, missiles hit a residential area, causing a fire. Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported that a woman in her 60s was killed, and by 8:40 a.m., five people were injured.

Zaporizhzhia Bombarded by Russian Drones

Russian forces launched a significant drone attack on Zaporizhzhia shortly after midnight on February 1. Local authorities and the State Emergency Service reported 18 drones striking the city, causing multiple fires and damage.

Infrastructure facilities, residential buildings, and private homes were damaged. Educational institutions, vehicles, and garages were also affected. One 57-year-old man was injured but declined hospitalization.

A Russian missile strike in central Odesa on January 31 evening injured at least seven people, including two women and a child, and damaged historic buildings.

Regional governor Oleh Kiper stated that all the wounded were in moderate condition. President Zelensky condemned the attack as deliberate, noting that Norwegian diplomats were near the blast site.

Odesa Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov confirmed significant damage in the UNESCO-protected area. Several museums, including the Literary, Historical, Archaeological, and Western and Eastern Art Museums, as well as the Philharmonic, sustained broken windows and facade damage.

The Ongoing Threat

The news will be updated as the situation develops. Emergency services continue their critical work to assist victims and mitigate the consequences of these attacks.