Russian forces attacked the Poltava Region with drones and missiles. As of 11 a.m., four people are confirmed dead and 37 injured. Two of the dead were rescue workers, and two were factory employees. Among the injured, 23 are State Emergency Service personnel. Some residents have been left without gas.
This was reported in a Telegram message by Vitaliy Dyakivnych, head of the Regional State Administration, to Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko. Dyakivnych clarified that reports of a fifth fatality have not been confirmed — the oil and gas company employee in question died in the Kharkiv Region, not in the Poltava Region.
“Last night, the enemy attacked the Poltava Region with missiles and strike UAVs. Direct hits and falling debris were recorded at two locations in the Poltava district,” said Dyakivnych.
An industrial facility was damaged as a result of the attack. A total of 3,480 customers were left without gas supply. Railway infrastructure was also damaged.
Klymenko said that Russian forces had struck a gas production facility in the Poltava Region. When State Emergency Service units arrived at the scene and began extinguishing the large-scale fire, the enemy launched another missile strike targeting the responders. Two rescuers later died from their injuries:
- Viktor Kuzmenko, Deputy Head of the Poltava Region State Emergency Service Operational Coordination Centre. He is a Hero of Ukraine, under whose leadership 17 people were rescued following the attack on Poltava in 2024. He took part in more than 50 operations to deal with the aftermath of shelling, helped prevent man-made disasters, and personally extinguished fires at critical infrastructure sites.
- Firefighter and rescuer Dmytro Skryl, who served with the State Emergency Service for over 20 years. He repeatedly took part in extinguishing complex fires at oil and gas industry facilities caused by Russian shelling.Dmytro Skryl, a rescuer killed in Poltava Region
Viktor Kuzmenko, rescuer killed in Poltava Region
5 and 6 May have been declared days of mourning in the region.