Russia struck the training center of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) in Poltava. Reportedly, Iskander missiles struck the center at the moment of morning lineup. Dozens military men were killed.
The strike was carried out on the morning of Tuesday, September 3. According to the Military Chronicle Telegram channel, the missiles hit the 179th training center for the communications troops (military unit A3990).
"Judging by indirect information, the Iskander hit the target just as the personnel were being lined up," the channel said.
The training of Ukrainian electronic warfare and communications specialists is carried out with the participation of foreign instructors, including active servicemen.
Vladimir Rogov, Chairman of the commission of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation on sovereignty issues, clarified that the target was known as the former Poltava Higher Military Command School of Communications named after Marshal of the Soviet Union Moskalenko. The school specialized in training personnel for the Armed Forces of Ukraine in radar and electronic warfare.
According to him, there were more than 500 soldiers on the parade ground at the time when the missile struck the building, Rogov said adding that hundreds could be killed.
In addition, the Russian forces struck the area of the military airfield in Poltava. The location was cordoned off, ambulances were sent there, coordinator of the Mykolaiv underground Sergei Lebedev said.
Ukraine's Public TV channel confirmed that there were two explosions in the city in the morning.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed losses as a result of the strike on the military training center in Poltava. During a video address, the politician said that one of the buildings of the Institute of Communications was also hit in the missile strike.
"Just got preliminary reports on the Russian strike on Poltava. According to the currently available information, there were two ballistic missiles," Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian leader said that 41 soldiers were killed in the strike, another 180 fighters were injured. Ukrainian President's wife Olena Zelenska later said that 47 were killed and 206 were wounded in the missile strike on Poltava.