Dozens killed in Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian city of Poltava | DW News

Ukrainian officials said Russian ballistic missiles hit a military training facility and a hospital in the city of Poltava. At least 50 people were killed in one of the deadliest strikes since the war began.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he has ordered a "full and prompt investigation into all the circumstances of what happened" in Poltava.

This followed critical responses and comments circulating on Ukrainian social media, reacting to unconfirmed reports from Russian military bloggers saying the strike had targeted an outdoor military ceremony.

Some blamed reckless behavior from officials for purportedly holding such an open-air event despite the threat of Russian attacks.

The Poltava military communications institute, founded in the 1960s when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union, focuses on training telecommunications specialists.

The Defense Ministry said that one of the institute's buildings was partially destroyed.

Poltava's Governor Philip Pronin said his administration could not yet provide more details of the circumstances of the strike for security reasons.

"The enemy is using any means to bring Ukraine more pain and disorientate Ukrainians. Please only trust reliable sources," he said.