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Editor note: This is a developing story and is being updated.
A Russian missile struck a residential building in the city of Poltava in the morning on Feb. 1, killing at least 12 people, including two children, Ukraine's State Emergency Service reported.
The attack destroyed all five floors of one of the building's sections, caused a fire, and damaged neighboring buildings.
A total of 12 civilians, including two children, were killed in the missile strike, the State Emergency Service said on the morning of Feb. 2. The attack injured another 17 people, including four children.
Twenty-two people were rescued from the building, said acting Poltava Oblast Governor Volodymyr Kohut.
A search and rescue operation is ongoing as of 7 a.m. on Feb. 2. Over 400 employees of municipal services and city authorities have been involved in the emergency response, according to the acting mayor of Poltava, Kateryna Yamshchykova.
Russia launched a large-scale attack on several regions overnight, hitting residential buildings in Odesa, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak said. "Attacks on residential buildings, civilians, typical tactics of the Russian army," he wrote on Telegram.
Russia launched 42 missiles of various types and 123 Shahed-type attack and decoy drones against Ukraine overnight, the Air Force said. Fifty-six were shot down, while 61 were lost in the airspace, according to the statement.
"This is the true face of Russia. Murderers who have absolutely no respect for any leader in the world or any other nation," Yermak said.
President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Ukraine's partners to strengthen the country's air defense.
"We are working to attract more resources and partners to strengthen the Ukrainian air shield. Protection against shelling is an absolute priority. Much more needs to be done, but every one of our partners in the world who helps us with this is a life saver," Zelensky said following the Poltava attack.
Poltava, located in central Ukraine, is home to around 300,000 residents. The city is 120 kilometers (75 miles) from the border with Russia and 230 kilometers (143 miles) from the eastern front.
The city and surrounding region are regular targets of Russian drone and missile attacks. The largest attack killed at least 51 people and injured over 270 at the Poltava Military Institute of Communications on Sept. 3.
Kateryna Denisova
