Russian missile attacks kill at least 41, hit children's hospital, Ukraine says

 

The missile hits children's hospital in Kyiv, officials say

Air defenses shot down 30 of 38 incoming missiles, Air Force reports damaged infrastructure, commercial, and residential buildings

Russia launched a deadly missile assault on Ukraine on Monday, striking the main children's hospital in Kyiv in broad daylight. The attack, which was one of the most devastating in recent months, resulted in the deaths of at least 41 civilians, including three children, and injured more than 170.

 

Parents holding babies wandered the streets outside the hospital, visibly shaken and in tears after the rare daytime aerial attack. The explosion shattered windows and ripped off panels, leaving hundreds of Kyiv residents to clear the debris. "It was terrifying. I couldn't breathe. I was trying to cover my baby with a cloth so he could breathe," said Svitlana Kravchenko, 33.

 

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who was en route to Washington for a NATO summit after stopping in Poland, reported that 37 people had died, including three children. However, casualty counts from various attack sites indicated at least 41 fatalities. On the Telegram messaging app, Zelenskiy stated that over 100 buildings were damaged, including the children's hospital, a maternity center in Kyiv, nurseries, a business center, and residential homes.

 

"The Russian terrorists must be held accountable for this," Zelenskiy wrote. "Expressions of concern do not stop terror. Condolences are not a weapon."

The Interior Ministry reported additional damage in the central cities of Kryvyi Rih and Dnipro and two eastern cities. The government declared a day of mourning on Tuesday for one of the worst air attacks of the war, emphasizing the urgent need for upgraded air defenses from Western allies.

 

 

The Air Force reported that air defenses shot down 30 of the 38 incoming missiles. An online video obtained by Reuters showed a missile descending toward the children's hospital, followed by a large explosion. The video was verified by visible landmarks.

 

The Security Service of Ukraine identified the missile as a Kh-101 cruise missile. Kyiv's military authorities confirmed that 27 people died in the capital, including three children, and 82 were wounded in the main missile volley and a strike that occurred two hours later

                                                                                                                                         

DAMAGE ACROSS THE CAPITAL

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko described the recent attack on the city as one of the largest since the war began, causing extensive damage in seven districts. The Health Minister reported that five units of a children's hospital were hit, necessitating the evacuation of the children to other facilities.

 

In the Dnipropetrovsk region, officials confirmed eleven deaths and 68 injuries. In the eastern town of Pokrovsk, three people were killed by missiles that struck an industrial facility, according to the regional governor.

During a press conference in Warsaw with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged Western allies to respond firmly to the attack. "We will retaliate against these people, we will deliver a powerful response from our side to Russia, for sure. The question to our partners is: can they respond?" Zelenskiy stated.

 

This attack came just a day before the start of a three-day NATO summit, where the war in Ukraine is a primary focus. U.S. President Joe Biden condemned the missile strikes, including those on the children's hospital in Kyiv, as a "horrific reminder of Russia's brutality." He also announced that Washington and NATO allies would introduce new measures to bolster Ukraine's air defenses.

 

Diplomats indicated that the United Nations Security Council would convene on Tuesday at the request of Britain, France, Ecuador, Slovenia, and the United States. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, deplored the attacks, noting that "among the victims were Ukraine's sickest children."

 

The Russian Defence Ministry claimed that its forces targeted defense industry sites and aviation bases. Despite this, Moscow has repeatedly denied targeting civilians, even though its attacks have resulted in thousands of civilian casualties since the invasion began in February 2022.

 

Ukraine's Prosecutor General stated that he had discussed the attacks with International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan and would share evidence with the ICC. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov highlighted the urgent need for more air defense systems to protect Ukrainian cities from Russian attacks. Air Force representative Colonel Yuri Ignat explained that Russian missiles are becoming harder to repel due to enhanced bombardment tactics, including the use of radar and thermal traps. He noted that the missiles flew at extremely low altitudes during the latest attacks.

 

DTEK, Ukraine's largest private power producer, reported damage to three electricity substations and networks in Kyiv. The power system, already heavily damaged by Russian air strikes since March, has led to widespread electricity cuts.