Missile attack on Institute in Poltava; major personnel changes in Ukraine's government: September 3 highlights

Missile attack on Institute in Poltava

The explosions were reported in Poltava at about 9 a.m. local time. According to preliminary data, the Russians used two Iskander-M ballistic missiles.

The missiles hit the Military Institute of Communications and the neighboring hospital. The attack killed 51 people and injured 271. The rescuers continue to work on the site as people are still trapped under the rubble.

The tragedy is being investigated by law enforcement agencies, the Defense Ministry's Main Inspectorate, the Ukrainian Military Law-Enforcement Service, and the Ground Forces Command. The Defense Ministry assures that students were not being lined up at the time of the attack.

Personnel changes in Ukrainian government

Davyd Arakhamia, head of the Servant of the People parliamentary faction said that more than 50% of Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers will undergo changes.

“As promised, a major government reset can already be expected this week. Tomorrow we will have a day of dismissals, and the day after tomorrow will be a day of appointments,” the politician said.

As of September 3, the parliament has received five resignation letters from:

• Strategic Industries Minister Olexander Kamyshin;
• Justice Minister Denys Maliuska;
• Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Ruslan Strilets;
• Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna;
• Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories Iryna Vereshchuk.

Dismissal in Presidential Office

President Zelensky dismissed Deputy Head of Ukraine's Presidential Office Rostyslav Shurma on September 3.

Earlier, one of undisclosed sources close to the President reported to the Ukrainian media that “He [Shurma] has wanted this for a long time, and now the circumstances are such that the president is ready to let him go.”

Ukraine’s Armed Forces explained withdrawal from Novohrodivka

The city of Novohrodivka in the Pokrovsk direction had disadvantageous geographical location, so the General Staff of the Armed Forces decided to withdraw troops from there. Nevertheless, the 59th Brigade assured that the withdrawal from Novohrodivka was “not the final point in this battle.”

Mongolia did not arrest Putin due to its dependency on energy imports

Mongolia cannot arrest Putin, who is there on official visit, because the country is dependent on Russian energy imports, Mongolian government spokesman said.

The EU says it "regrets" Mongolia's failure to fulfill its obligations under the Rome Statute to arrest Putin.

Russian forces allegedly shot Ukrainian prisoners of war

Law enforcement officials began investigating the alleged shooting of three Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russian occupiers in the Toretsk direction.

Information was published online that the service members of one of the Armed Forces of Ukraine's brigades came out of the basement of a house with their hands up, and the Russians put them face down, shooting them on the spot.

SBU failed to conduct a background check before appointing the chief of Unmanned Systems Forces

Security Service of Ukraine did not run a background check on Roman Hladkyi, the chief of staff of the Unmanned Systems Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, before his appointment. SBU explained that the Service had not received a request for an inspection, as it was not mandatory.

However, the SBU had checked Hladkyi before, in 2020, in connection with his access to state secrets.

Kudrytskyi and members of Ukrenergo supervisory board commented on his dismissal

Head of Ukraine's power grid operator Ukrenergo, Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, claims that the decision of the company's supervisory board to terminate his powers early has nothing to do with the security of electrical substations.

Daniel Dobbeni, supervisory board chairman and board member Peder Andreasen resigned after Volodymyr Kudrytskyi was dismissed on Monday, calling the dismissal "politically motivated."

New medals for Ukraine at 2024 Paralympics

Ukraine has won gold and silver in swimming at the Paralympics in Paris. Yurii Shengur and Andrii Trusov finished first and second in the 100m backstroke in the S7 class.

Yulia Shulyar became the champion of the 2024 Paralympics in the 400 meters in the T12 class.

Other important news

• National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine dismissed deputy director Gizo Uglava for “violating a public servant's oath.”
• Nestor Shufrych, a pro-Russian member of the Ukrainian parliament will face trial for financing Russia's National Guard in the temporarily occupied Crimea.
• Ukrainian parliament voted for creating a separate branch of the Armed Forces, the Unmanned Systems Forces.
• US is close to an agreement to provide long-range missiles for Ukraine – Reuters.
• Norway allocates €48 million for drones and air defense for Ukraine.
• Couple who killed a Ukrainian woman and her mother in Germany will stand trial. Prosecutors found out their motive.