Funeral services were held in Poltava for the victims of a devastating Russian missile attack on a military training facility, which resulted in over 50 deaths and more than 300 injuries. Mourners, including grieving families and local officials, gathered at the Cathedral of the Assumption for a solemn ceremony. The funeral service was marked by an air raid siren and the sound of explosions from overnight Russian drone attacks.
The attack underscores the escalating intensity of Russia’s military actions, including recent strikes on energy infrastructure and residential areas. The Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, faced multiple drone attacks overnight, with Ukrainian air defenses intercepting 58 out of 67 drones. Meanwhile, a Russian artillery attack in Kostiantynivka killed four and damaged infrastructure.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, addressing the tragedy, called for the removal of restrictions on Western-supplied weapons and announced plans to increase domestic weapons production. Ukraine is establishing underground facilities for producing new drones and missiles to enhance its defense capabilities amid ongoing assaults.
In addition to the conflict’s toll, Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has warned Iran against arming Russia, which has been accused of receiving short-range ballistic missiles from Tehran. The United States has confirmed these transfers but has not disclosed further details. Ukrainian forces have also continued strikes on Russian targets, including a drone strike in Voronezh that caused a fire and led to evacuations.