Amstor shopping mall was hit by Х-22 missiles launched by Tu-22M3 warplanes from Russia’s Kursk region, a Ukrainian air force statement said.
Dmytro Lunin, head of the Poltava regional military administration, said flames have been extinguished in the mall, and that at least 13 people were killed and more than 50 others wounded in the attack.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Telegram: “The invaders hit a shopping mall … the mall is on fire, it’s impossible to imagine the number of victims.”
“Russia continues to take out its powerlessness on ordinary citizens. It is useless to hope for adequacy and humanity on its part,” he added.
Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to the Internal Affairs Ministry of Ukraine, said the target was the Amstor shopping centre.
“There were hundreds of people there at the time of the impact. I ask foreign media journalists to leave for Kremenchuk. We will show you this next war crime of Putin,” he said.
Ukraine’s mission to the EU on Twitter said rescuers are trying to extinguish the fire. “Russia’s inhumanity has no limits. We call on partners to #ArmUkraineNow and stop war crimes against people,” it said.
