A Russian attack on Poltava killed one person and injured three; Zelensky held a meeting to discuss the launch of Ukrainian production of anti-ballistic missiles; the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry responded to Iran's accusations of Ukraine's “complicity” in the war on the side of the US; Bulgaria will join the PURL program; a Ukrainian was detained in Germany on suspicion of spying for the Russian Federation — Suspilne collected the main news on the morning of March 31.
Attack on Poltava
On the evening of March 30, damage to an apartment building was recorded in the Poltava district, caused by falling debris from a Russian UAV. This was reported at 11:25 p.m. by the head of the Poltava Regional Military Administration, Vitaliy Dyakivnych.
At 22:42 on March 30, the Air Force reported that a group of Russian drones was moving towards the Poltava region, specifically towards Poltava, Hadyach, and Myrhorod. At around 22:53, the first explosion was heard in the Poltava community, followed by a second at 22:58.
At 0:31 on March 31, it became known that one person was killed and three were injured in the attack: two were hospitalized, including an 11-year-old boy.
Ukraine is working on anti-ballistic missiles — Zelensky
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a Stavka meeting to discuss air defense, including Ukrainian production of anti-ballistic missiles. He said this in an evening address.
“We have analyzed in detail the situation regarding the execution of contracts and the procurement of everything necessary. This is not only about countering ballistics – it is also about front-line air defense, missiles against drones, and also interceptors. Everything will be provided. We are working so that our Ukrainian production can reach a level where we will have the necessary components of the air defense system – all of them, including anti-ballistic ones,” Zelenskyy said.
According to him, Ukraine is working on this with several countries, but it is too early to reveal details. He called the most important issues licenses and localization.
Context: On February 17, Zelenskyy said that Europe could strengthen air defense faster if it received licenses to produce missiles, but the US did not agree to this.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs — on Iran's accusations of Ukraine's “complicity”
Foreign Ministry spokesman Georgy Tykhy responded to Iran's accusations on the social network X. Earlier, Iran's permanent representative to the UN Amir Saeed Irovani wrote a letter to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, accusing Ukraine of “complicity” in the US war against Iran on the side of the US.
“How do you know if a representative of the Iranian regime is lying? If his lips are moving, it means he is lying. Almost 60,000 drones that Iran shared with Russia have hit Ukraine since 2022. Not a single Ukrainian drone has ever hit Iran. This liar should have been eliminated along with his regime long ago,” Tykhy wrote.
Context: On March 28, Zelenskyy stated that military cooperation agreements with Middle Eastern countries do not provide for sending military personnel to the US and Israel's war against Iran.
Bulgaria will join PURL
Zelensky announced that Bulgaria will join the PURL program to participate in the procurement of American weapons by European countries for the needs of Ukraine. The president announced this during a press conference with Acting Prime Minister of Bulgaria Andrey Gyurov.
“I am grateful for the positive signal that Bulgaria is joining the PURL program. And here, first of all, the signal itself is important. Secondly, this is an opportunity for us to strengthen our air defense strategy before the next heating season,” Zelenskyy noted.
Andrey Gyurov confirmed that Bulgaria will contribute to the PURL program.
Context: Earlier this day, Zelensky and Gyurov signed a bilateral security agreement, which also includes support for Ukraine's accession to the EU.
Ukrainian detained in Germany on suspicion of spying for Russia
In Germany, law enforcement officers have detained a Ukrainian citizen suspected of collaborating with Russian special services, the German prosecutor's office reported.
Vitaliy M. was arrested on March 27 in the city of Hagen, and the next day, March 28, he was taken to the Federal Court, where a judge issued a warrant for his arrest. He is suspected of collaborating with a foreign intelligence service.
According to the investigation, the suspect, “acting on behalf of the Russian intelligence service,” had been collecting information about a man living in Germany and previously participating in hostilities on the side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine since at least November 2025.
As noted by the German prosecutor's office, such activities could have been part of preparations for possible further operations against the military on the territory of the country.