"Two ballistic missiles hit Poltava, hitting a school and a nearby hospital. One of the buildings of the Institute of Communications was partially destroyed. People were trapped under the rubble. More than 180 people were injured. Unfortunately, many died, currently 41."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported this on Telegram, also announcing three days of mourning in memory of the victims.

The attack – which aimed to hit a military training center – has rekindled concerns about Moscow's build-up of its arsenal in the conflict against Kiev.

European officials expect Iran to soon deliver more ballistic missiles to Russia, Bloomberg reported, a move that could prompt a swift response from Ukraine’s Western allies. Iran has already supplied Russia with hundreds of drones during its war with Ukraine, but the potential transfer of ballistic missiles would mark a worrying development in the conflict, according to the same sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

For its part, US officials quoted by Reuters say that the United States is close to an agreement to supply Kiev with long-range cruise missiles for the F-16s, weapons that could reach "deep into Russia".

However, the Ukrainian armed forces will have to wait "several months" due to "technical problems" that need to be resolved before proceeding with the shipment.

(Online Union)