Russian forces strike rescuers again in Poltava region, leaving dead and over 35 injured
Photo: Tragedy in the Poltava region: Rescuers killed in a second Russian strike (facebook.com DSNSSUMY)
Russia struck rescuers with a missile overnight as they were extinguishing a fire at a gas facility in the Poltava region. Two people were killed, and 23 others were injured, according to Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State Emergency Service, and Naftogaz.
The strike on the rescuers was carried out after they arrived at the site of the initial attack.
Double strike
Overnight, the enemy attacked a gas production facility in the Poltava region. A large-scale fire broke out.
When units of the State Emergency Service arrived at the scene and began extinguishing the fire, the Russians struck again — this time with a missile directly targeting the people.
As a result of the attack, two rescuers were killed.
Photo: rescuers killed in the attack (t.me/mvs_ukraine)
Viktor Kuzmenko, deputy head of the operational coordination center of the State Emergency Service in the Poltava region and a Hero of Ukraine. After the strike on Poltava in 2024, 17 people were rescued under his leadership. He took part in more than 50 operations to eliminate the consequences of attacks.
Dmytro Skryl, a firefighter-rescuer with more than 20 years of service. He repeatedly extinguished complex fires at oil and gas industry facilities after enemy strikes.
Number of victims
Photo: Naftogaz showed the consequences of the attack (https://t.me/NaftogazUA/2844)
In addition to the two killed rescuers, three Naftogaz employees were also killed in the second strike. Eight people were injured, and 23 rescuers sustained injuries. Three are in serious condition, doctors are fighting for their lives.
“This night, Russia took the lives of three of our colleagues and two rescuers of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. Another 37 people were injured,” Naftogaz added.
MIA reaction
“These are deliberate strikes on those who save lives. We are documenting every war crime committed by Russia. The enemy must be held accountable for the killing of Ukrainians,” the Ministry of Internal Affairs said in a statement.
Features of the Russian attack
Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat answered journalists’ questions about whether more frequent attacks, including during the daytime, indicate a change in Russia’s tactics.
“On multiple occasions, the enemy has continued attacks throughout the entire day. This was the case a month ago, a week ago, and several days ago. The enemy has certain means, including decoy drones. This is to further pressure Ukraine, to complicate our air defense, and, of course, to exhaust air defense assets, both ground-based and airborne platforms,” he said.
On the same night, Russia carried out a broader strike on the Poltava region using missiles and drones.
According to RBC-Ukraine, an industrial enterprise and railway infrastructure were damaged as a result of the attack, and more than 3,400 consumers were left without gas.
In total, five people were killed, and more than 35 were injured in the region.
The Kyiv region, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, and other regions came under drone and missile attacks — residential buildings, civilian infrastructure were damaged, and there were casualties in several regions.
