A Russian missile strike on a military educational facility in central Ukraine’s Poltava city has left 51 people dead and more than 200 injured, marking one of the deadliest attacks since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. The strike occurred Tuesday morning, hitting both the educational facility and a nearby hospital, according to Ukraine’s prosecutor general’s office.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that two ballistic missiles were involved in the attack. He reiterated his plea to Western allies for increased air defense support, emphasizing the urgent need for systems and missiles capable of intercepting ballistic threats. “We say again and again to everyone in the world who has the power to stop this terror: air defense systems and missiles are needed in Ukraine, not somewhere in a warehouse,” Zelensky said.

Rescue operations are ongoing as crews continue to search through the rubble, with up to 18 more people potentially trapped, according to Filip Pronin, head of the Poltava region military administration. At least 10 residential buildings were also damaged in the city.

Moscow has not commented on the attack, but Russian military blogger Vladimir Rogov reported that a military school in Poltava was targeted. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, originally from Poltava, stressed that only advanced air defense systems like the Patriot or SAMP/T could intercept the ballistic missiles used in this strike.

The attack has sparked outrage, with Western leaders condemning Russia’s actions. Ukraine’s First Lady, Olena Zelenska, described the incident as a “terrible tragedy for the whole of Ukraine.” British Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemned the strike as a “sickening act of aggression” and reaffirmed the UK’s support for Ukraine.

Local authorities declared three days of mourning in Poltava, with further details withheld due to security concerns.