On Monday, Russia launched a missile attack on Kyiv’s main children’s hospital in broad daylight, as well as on other cities across Ukraine, resulting in the deaths of at least 41 civilians. This marked the deadliest wave of air strikes in months.
Parents carrying babies wandered outside the hospital, dazed and weeping after the rare daytime aerial assault. Windows were shattered, and panels torn off, with hundreds of Kyiv residents assisting in clearing the debris.
“It was terrifying. I struggled to breathe and tried to cover my baby with a cloth so he could breathe,” Svitlana Kravchenko, 33, told Reuters.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, en route to Washington for a NATO summit after a stop in Poland, reported a death toll of 37, including three children, and over 170 injured.
However, the total number of casualties from various attack sites across regions amounted to at least 41.
In a message on Telegram, Zelenskiy said more than 100 buildings were damaged, including the children’s hospital, a maternity center in Kyiv, nurseries, a business center, and homes.
“The Russian terrorists must be held accountable for this,” he wrote. “Expressions of concern do not stop terror. Condolences are not a weapon.”
The Interior Ministry reported damage in the central cities of Kryvyi Rih and Dnipro, and two eastern cities as well.
The government declared a day of mourning on Tuesday for one of the worst air attacks of the war, highlighting Ukraine’s urgent need for upgraded air defenses from its Western allies.
The air force reported that air defenses shot down 30 of the 38 missiles launched.
A video obtained by Reuters showed a missile falling towards the children’s hospital, followed by a large explosion. The video’s location was verified through visible landmarks.
The Security Service of Ukraine identified the missile as an Kh-101 cruise missile.
Kyiv’s military authorities stated that 27 people died in the capital, including three children, with 82 wounded in the main missile volley and a subsequent strike two hours later.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko noted that the attack caused damage in seven city districts, describing it as one of the largest of the war. The Health Minister reported that five units of the children’s hospital were damaged, and children were evacuated to other facilities.
Regional officials confirmed that 11 people were killed and 68 wounded in the Dnipropetrovsk region, while three people died in the eastern town of Pokrovsk where missiles struck an industrial facility.
In Warsaw, alongside Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Zelenskiy called for a strong response from Western allies.
“We will retaliate against these people and deliver a powerful response to Russia. The question for our partners is: can they respond?” Zelenskiy said.
The attack occurred a day before a three-day NATO summit, with the war in Ukraine as a key focus.
US President Joe Biden condemned Moscow’s missile strikes in Ukraine, including on the children’s hospital in Kyiv, calling them “a horrific reminder of Russia’s brutality.” He added that new measures to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses would be announced by Washington and its NATO allies.
Diplomats said the United Nations Security Council would meet on Tuesday at the request of Britain, France, Ecuador, Slovenia, and the United States.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk denounced the attacks, stating, “Among the victims were Ukraine’s sickest children.”
Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed its forces targeted defense industry sites and aviation bases, denying the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure. However, thousands of civilians have been killed since the invasion began in February 2022.
Ukraine’s Prosecutor General said he discussed the attacks with International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan, adding that his office would share evidence with the ICC.
Ukraine’s Defence Minister Rustem Umerov urged allies to supply more air defense systems to protect cities from Russian attacks, as Ukraine still lacked adequate air defenses.
Air Force representative Colonel Yuri Ignat noted that repelling Russian attacks was becoming more challenging as Moscow’s forces enhanced their bombardment tactics.
“Enemy missiles are equipped with additional means, including radar and thermal traps,” Ignat wrote on Facebook.
The missiles flew at extremely low altitudes during Monday’s attacks, he added.
DTEK, the largest private power producer, reported damage to three electricity substations and networks in Kyiv.
The power system has already sustained extensive damage from targeted Russian air strikes that began in March, leading to widespread electricity cuts.
