Death toll in Russian missile strike on Poltava rises to 14, including 2 children

A Russian missile struck a residential building in the central Ukrainian city of Poltava on the morning of Feb. 1, killing at least 14 people, including two children, and injuring 17 others, Ukraine's State Emergency Service reported.

The powerful strike destroyed all five floors of one building section, ignited a fire, and caused significant damage to neighboring structures. Among the injured were four children.

Search and rescue operations continue, with over 400 municipal and emergency personnel working at the site. Acting Poltava Oblast Governor Volodymyr Kohut confirmed that 22 people were rescued from the rubble.

The missile strike on Poltava was part of a broader large-scale Russian assault targeting several Ukrainian regions, including Odesa, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia, according to Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak.

Russia launched 42 missiles and 123 Shahed-type attack and decoy drones overnight, Ukraine’s Air Force reported. While 56 were shot down, 61 were lost in the airspace, causing significant damage.

Yermak condemned the attacks as "typical tactics of the Russian army" and called Russia "murderers with no respect for any leader or nation."

In response to the Poltava attack, President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Ukraine's international partners to bolster the country's air defense systems.

"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.

Poltava, a city of around 300,000 residents, lies approximately 120 kilometers (75 miles) from the Russian border and 230 kilometers (143 miles) from the eastern front.

The city has been a frequent target of Russian drone and missile attacks. The deadliest attack to date occurred on Sept. 3, when a strike on the Poltava Military Institute of Communications killed 51 people and injured over 270.

Russian drone attacks caused large-scale fire in Kharkiv

On the night of February 1-2, Russian forces launched a drone strike on the Slobidskyi district of Kharkiv, igniting a large-scale fire at a civilian facility, according to local authorities.

Oleh Syniehubov, Head of the Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, confirmed the attack, stating that initial reports indicated no casualties, although damage assessments are ongoing.

Mayor Ihor Terekhov said that emergency services were promptly dispatched to the scene to manage the situation.

By 10:00 a.m., the State Emergency Service reported that firefighters had successfully extinguished the blaze caused by the overnight attack.

Efforts to assess the full extent of the damage and conduct cleanup operations are ongoing.

Zelenskyy expects Trump's special envoy to visit Ukraine soon

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed confidence that Keith Kellogg, former U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, along with his team, will visit Ukraine in the near future.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of the upcoming visit, noting that ongoing communication between Ukraine and Kellogg’s team is already in place.

"Kellogg and people from his team… I am confident they will be in Ukraine very soon. This is important for them, and we agreed with President Trump that the teams would engage more. I believe an in-person meeting will take place soon," Zelenskyy said.

The Ukrainian president acknowledged that the previous visit had been postponed due to legal matters in the U.S. but said he expects it to happen within the coming weeks.

When asked about Kellogg’s assertion that the war in Ukraine could end within 100 days, Zelenskyy highlighted Trump's determination and stressed the need for intensified measures against Russia.

"Total sanctions would help us. Strong support for our army, without halting this assistance, is crucial. Pressure through various measures, including energy price reductions and expanded sanctions on Russia's energy, industry, and banking sectors, will force Putin towards a diplomatic solution," Zelenskyy stated.

Zelenskyy underscored the urgency of maintaining pressure on Russia to secure peace and stability for Ukraine.