Conflicts

The death toll from the Russian attack with two missiles on the Poltava telecommunications institute (Ukraine) is rising. The number of dead has increased to 51 people. There are also 218 injured.

There are reportedly many cadets among the victims in Poltava. They were gathered for a ceremony, an event which Russia seemed to be aware of having sent two ballistic missiles there. President Zelensky had initially announced 41 dead and more than 180 injured. The latest official toll indicates 51 dead and 218 (or 219) injured. The regional governor, Filip Pronin, also specifies that there are still 18 people under the rubble.

Questions

The circumstances at the time of the attack are creating a stir in Ukraine. Public opinion does not understand the need to offer such targets to the Russians. It is understood that there was probably a gathering of military personnel or military students in the targeted institute. Transmission operators were reportedly killed. This attack did not fail to provoke a reaction from Ukraine's allies, condemning Russia, especially since in addition to the educational institution, a hospital was also hit.

Resignations

Several officials resigned late in the afternoon: Oleksandr Kamyshin, Minister of Strategic Industries, Denys Maliouska, Minister of Justice, Ruslan Strilets, Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, as well as Vitali Koval, head of the State Property Fund. They may have no connection between the deadly attack and their decisions. However, there are tensions at the top of the State. As demonstrated by the dismissal of Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, the director of the Ukrainian electricity grid operator, Ukrenergo, which led, in the process, to the resignation of Daniel Dobbeni and Peter Andreasen, two members of the supervisory board. They thus show their disagreement with the decision, which according to them was premature.

(MH with Olivier Duquesne – Source: Le Monde – Picture: © Wikipedia – Creative Common License – Presidency of Ukraine)