Russian attacks on the Poltava and Kharkiv regions left at least five dead and dozens injured. Rescue workers in the field are also among the victims.
At least five people were killed in Russian attacks in Ukraine’s Poltava and Kharkiv regions, officials there said on Tuesday. According to them, members of the rescue services are also among the victims, reports TASR based on a report by the AFP agency.
- Russian attacks in the Poltava and Kharkiv regions killed at least five people.
- The Russian attacks came shortly after the announcement of a planned ceasefire during the May celebrations.
In the Poltava region, four people were killed and 31 other people were injured as a result of a Russian drone and missile attack, local authorities confirmed. The Office of Civil Defense specified that two rescuers were also among the victims, as Russia attacked in the same area for the second time – at a time when rescue work was already underway there.
Attacks on rescuers
According to the prosecutor’s office, one person lost his life in the Kharkiv region and two others were injured.
“Yesterday evening, the Russians attacked the energy infrastructure in the Poltava region. And they attacked again in a particularly heinous way – with a rocket, when the workers of the state rescue service were already on the scene and extinguished the fire. So far, it is reported that dozens of people are injured. Unfortunately, four people were killed, including two rescuers,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on the X platform in response to the attacks, according to which Russia attacked on the night of Tuesday and Zaporozhye and Kyiv regions, while three people were injured.
A truce accompanied by attacks
The DPA agency recalls that the deadly Russian attacks occurred shortly after the announcement of the planned ceasefire, which both Kyiv and Moscow announced on Monday. The Russians want to stop the fighting on May 8 and 9 during the Victory Day celebrations. In response, the Ukrainian president stated that they will observe their own cease-fire as of Wednesday midnight local time (Tuesday 11:00 p.m. CET).
“It is complete cynicism to ask for a cease-fire in order to hold propaganda celebrations, while until its beginning they carry out missile and drone attacks every day. Russia could stop firing at any time, and this would stop the war and our reactions. Peace and real steps are needed to achieve it. Ukraine will act in a reciprocal way,” added Zelenskyy.
