Russian attack kills two in city of Poltava, Ukrainian officials say
A firefighter works at the site of a building hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Poltava, Ukraine July 3, 2025. Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Poltava region/Handout via REUTERS
KYIV - A Russian attack on the city of Poltava in central Ukraine killed two people and damaged a military recruitment centre, the Ukrainian military and regional officials said on Thursday.
Regional governor Volodymyr Kohut said 11 people were also wounded, while the military reported fires in the military recruitment building and in a nearby residential building.
Photos from the scene posted by emergency services showed firefighters battling blazes as well as damaged buildings and cars.
Russia has stepped up drone and missile attacks on Ukraine in the last month, and has launched some of the biggest attacks since its full-scale invasion that began in February 2022.
The aerial assault followed a drone attack on Monday near a military recruitment centre in the central city of Kryvyi Rih.
Civilians were wounded in Kryvyi Rih, the military said, adding that military personnel and civilian employees of the recruitment centre had sheltered during the air alert.
Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, have underlined the urgency of assistance on air defence from allies to defend against such assaults. REUTERS
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