The partially-destroyed Institute of Communications, struck by a Russian missile, Poltava, Ukraine, September 3, 2024

Tuesday’s Coverage: Russia Kills 49+, Injures 219+ in Poltava

Map: Institute for the Study of War

UPDATE 1807 GMT:

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says Berlin has ordered an additional 17 IRIS-T air defense systems for Ukraine.

Germany has already delivered 7 IRIS-Ts to Kyiv. Four more are expected to arrive by the end of 2024, with the remainder — a total of 12 of medium-range versions and 12 short-range — in place by 2026.

“This shows that German support for Ukraine is not letting up,” Scholz said at an air force base near Kiel in northern Germany.

UPDATE 1452 GMT:

Ukraine and Ireland have signed a bilateral security agreement.

Thanking the visiting Irish Taioseach Simon Harris, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said:

I want to express my special gratitude to Ireland for the joint efforts in demining our land – this is truly saving countless lives.

We will, of course, continue working together to strengthen the resilience of Ukraine, Ireland, and all of Europe, including in areas such as cybersecurity.

The agreement is Ukraine’s 20th as well as one with the European Union. Most of them are with European countries, but there are also 10-year pacts with the US, Canada, and Japan.

UPDATE 1153 GMT:

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis has posted about today’s deadly Russia missile strikes:

Footage of the aftermath of the strikes on Lviv:

UPDATE 1144 GMT:

Among the seven fatalities in Russia’s attack on Lviv in western Ukraine are a mother and her three daughters.

Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi posted:

UPDATE 0852 GMT:

Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who submitted his letter of resignation to Parliament this morning, has posted about Russia’s latest deadly attacks:

To put an end to this terror, Ukraine’s partners must promptly deliver the promised air defense systems and ammunition, as well as strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities and allow us to launch long-range strikes on all legitimate military targets in Russia.

Partner air defense can and must be used to protect civilian people in Ukraine. Shooting down pieces of deadly metal in the air does not constitute a country’s participation in the war. The simple act of saving human lives cannot be considered an escalation. The decision to allow neighbouring countries to use air defense systems must finally be made.

Russia understands only one language: the language of strength. We must all take decisive action, show leadership, and be brave in order to put a fair end to Russian war and terror.

UPDATE 0847 GMT:

The death toll in Poltava from Russia’s double missile attack on Tuesday has risen to 53, with the discovery of a body in rubble.

At least 298 people are injured. Five more may still be trapped.

UPDATE 0753 GMT:

Russia has been secretly acquiring sensitive goods in India, and has explored building facilities in the country to secure components for its invasion of Ukraine.

Russian state correspondence, seen by the Financial Times, confirms the arrangements. “Two Western officials and two businessmen formerly involved in the trade” added details.

The Russian Industry and Trade Ministry developed confidential plans in October 2022 to spend about 82 billion roubles ($1 billion) on the procurement of critical electronics through channels hidden from the international community and sanctions.

Letters to a trade promotion body with links to the Russian security services sought “significant reserves” of rupees amassed by Russian banks from booming oil sales to India. The Indian market would be an alternative for crucial goods “previously supplied from unfriendly countries”. Moscow envisaged investment in Russo-Indian electronics development and production facilities.

In July, US Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo wrote three of India’s top business organizations:

Any foreign financial institution that does business with Russia’s military industrial base risks being sanctioned itself. This heightened sanctions risk exists regardless of the currency used in a transaction.

UPDATE 0729 GMT:

Euromaidan Press reports that the toll has risen to seven killed, including three children, and 47 wounded from this morning’s Russian strikes on Lviv in western Ukraine.

More than 50 buildings have been damaged. Among them are at least seven architectural monuments in the historic area and UNESCO zone have been damaged, two medical institutions, and two schools.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy earlier posted about five killed and more than 30 wounded:

Every one of our partners around the world who helps Ukraine with air defense is a true defender of life. Anyone who convinces partners to provide Ukraine with more long-range capabilities, enabling us to respond justly to terror, is working to prevent such Russian terrorist strikes on Ukrainian cities. Terror must be stopped.

In Kryvyi Rih in south-central Ukraine, five civilians have been injured, including a 10-year-old child. A hotel and several high-rise buildings have been damaged.

UPDATE 0706 GMT:

Russia’s attacks have damaged one of two overhead power lines at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southern Ukraine, says Ukrainian State nuclear energy company Energoatom.

The agency says the plant is currently receiving power from the Ukrainian grid. However, “in case of damage to the second power line, an emergency will arise due to the loss of external power supply to the pumps that cool the reactor cores and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant’s fuel pools.”

The plant, the largest in Europe with six reactors, has been repeatedly disconnected from the grid since Russia seized it in March 2022 and converted it into a military base.

UPDATE 0658 GMT:

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says Ukraine is planning to “indefinitely” hold territory which it has captured in the Kursk region in western Russia.

Zelenskiy told US television that the month-long Kursk incursion is one of “the stages to end the war”, linked to a second, forthcoming Global Peace Summit.

Ukraine’s military says it controls more than 1,290 square km (500 square miles) and 100 settlements in Kursk, capturing more than 600 Russian troops.

“We don’t need their land. We don’t want to bring our Ukrainian way of life there,” Zelensky said.

Instead, the captured territory is part of a “victory plan” to be presented to the US in September.

Zelenskiy said in late August that the plan includes Ukraine’s participation in global security infrastructure; pressure on Russia to end the war through diplomatic means, and an economic aspect.

UPDATE 0551 GMT:

Ukraine’s Zelenskiy Government is carrying out a reshuffle.

The highest-profile departure so far is Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who submitted his letter of resignation to Parliament on Wednesday morning.

Five other cabinet ministers resigned on Tuesday: Deputy Prime Minister and Reintegration Minister, Iryna Vereshchuk; Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs, Olga Stefanishyna; Strategic Industries Minister Oleksandr Kamyshin; Justice Minister Denys Maliuska; and Environment Minister Ruslan Strilets.

Vereshchuk wrote online: “Rebooting…after almost three years in the government, [I submitted my] resignation today. I thank the president for his trust, thank you to the prime minister and members of the government for their cooperation…Thanks to the team of the ministry of reintegration for their work and dedication!”

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in his nightly address to the nation:

The autumn will be extremely important for Ukraine. And our state institutions must be set up so that Ukraine achieves all the results that we need….We must strengthen some areas in the government, and personnel decisions have been prepared.

David Arakhamia, the Parliamentary head of Zelenskiy’s Servant of the People Party pointed to more changes:

As promised, a major government reset can be expected this week. More than 50% of the cabinet of ministers’ staff will be changed. Tomorrow we will have a day of dismissals, and the day after that a day of appointments.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Poltava in central Ukraine is observing a day of mourning after Russia killed at least 51 people and wounded at least 271 in an attack with two ballistic missiles on Tuesday.

The Russians struck the military’s Institute of Communications, partially destroying it, and a neighboring medical facility in the early afternoon.

The toll was elevated because “the time interval between the alarm and the arrival of the deadly missiles was so short that it caught people during an evacuation to the bomb shelter”, said the Defense Ministry.

Bodies, some in uniforms, lay on the ground covered in dust and debris, and officials confirmed that Service personnel are among the casualties.

Victims remain trapped under the rubble, as rescuers and medics continue to work at the scene. Oleksandr Khorunzhyi, the press officer of the emergency services, said on TV: “Every 15-20 minutes there are ‘minutes of silence’ to listen out for people who are under the rubble.”

Ukraine First Lady Olena Zelenska posted about “a stunning tragedy for all of Ukraine”. In a video address, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy asked for international assistance to prevent further attacks and to hold Moscow accountable.

The Russian scum will surely pay for this strike. We continue to urge everyone in the world who has the power to stop this terror: Ukraine needs air defense systems and missiles now, not sitting in storage. Long-range strikes that can protect us from Russian terror are needed now, not later. Every day of delay, unfortunately, means more lost lives.

Zelenskiy has ordered an operational investigation to determine “whether enough was done to protect the lives and health of the soldiers at the [educational] facility”.

3+ Killed, 25 Injured in Lviv

At least three civilians were killed and 25 wounded in Lviv in western Ukraine in a Russian attack overnight.

Several explosions were heard in the city amid a nationwide air raid alert. Buildings near the central railway station caught fire.

A 14-year-old girl, a 50-year-old nurse at a local clinic, and a man were slain. There are five children among the wounded, including a 10-year-old boy, with 15 people hospitalized.

Casualties are also reported in Kryvyi Rih in south-cenral Ukraine. Explosions have been heard in cities such as Kyiv, Sumy, Lutsk, and Rivne.