Russian missiles kill 41 in deadliest strike on Ukraine this year

Kyiv (Reuters): At least 41 people were killed and more than 180 wounded on Tuesday when Russia struck a military institute in the central town of Poltava with two missiles, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, the war's deadliest single attack so far this year.

Zelenskiy said in a video that Russian forces struck with two ballistic missiles, damaging a building of the Military Institute of Communications. He ordered a full and prompt investigation.

"The Russian scum will definitely be held accountable for this strike," Zelenskiy said on the Telegram messaging app.

According to the foreign ministry, the type of weapons used left little time for people to find cover once the air alert had sounded.

Photographs posted on social media in Ukraine showed several bodies lying on the ground covered in dust and debris, with the badly damaged side of a large building behind them. Reuters could not immediately verify the images.

"One of the institute's buildings was partially destroyed, and many people were trapped under the rubble," the defence ministry said on Telegram.

"Thanks to the coordinated work of rescuers and medics, 25 people were rescued, 11 of whom were taken from the rubble. The rescuers are currently continuing their work."

Russia had yet to comment on the attack.

Russia has intensified its missile and drone attacks on Ukraine two-and-a-half years into the full-scale war.

Last week Ukraine was pummeled with the heaviest bombardment to date, and on Monday ballistic and cruise missiles targeted Kyiv causing loud explosions.

Ukraine also targeted Russia with more than 158 drones at the weekend, damaging an oil refinery near Moscow and a power station.

Zelenskiy repeated his calls for more Western air defences and urged allies to allow their long-range weapons to be used for strikes deeper into Russian territory in order to protect Ukraine.