20 dead in Russian missile attack on children’s hospital and several Ukrainian towns – Firstpost

July 8, 2024

Employees of the Okhmadyt Children’s Hospital formed human chains to clear away rubble after the attack. Reuters

20 people died after Russia launched massive missile attacks on Ukraine ahead of the NATO summit. At least seven people were killed in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Monday when a Russian missile hit a children’s hospital.

The city’s mayor said authorities arrived on the scene immediately after the attack and evacuated the inmates, who sought refuge in the hospital.

Meanwhile, the head of the military administration in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih said at least 10 people were killed there and three others were wounded in the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, the BBC reported. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was visiting Poland when the attack rocked Ukraine.

Selenskyj condemns the incident

In a post on X, the Ukrainian president mentioned that over 40 missiles had hit different cities across the country. “Russian terrorists have once again launched a massive missile attack on Ukraine. Different cities – Kyiv, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Sloviansk, Kramatorsk. More than 40 missiles of different types. Residential buildings, infrastructure and a children’s hospital were damaged,” he wrote in the post, sharing a picture of a damaged building hit by a Russian missile.

In a separate post, Zelensky shared a video of the destruction of the Ochmatdyt Children’s Hospital in Kyiv. He also noted that the hospital is considered one of the most important hospitals in Ukraine and Europe.

“After the hospital was damaged by a Russian attack, people are lying under the rubble and the exact number of victims is still unknown. At the moment, everyone – doctors and ordinary people – are helping to clear the rubble,” the Ukrainian president assured.

“Russia cannot claim not to know where its missiles are flying and must be held accountable for all its crimes. Against people, against children, against humanity in general,” he added. Sharply criticizing Russia’s behavior, Zelensky noted that the world is watching what Russia is doing in Ukraine.

Cancer and intensive care units were hit in the attacks

Shortly after Zelensky’s post, Health Minister Viktor Lyashko said that cancer and intensive care units had been hit in the attack. Speaking to Reuters, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the attack could be considered the “worst” attack on the capital since the war began.

Elsewhere, Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the military administration in Kryvyi Rih, posted on Telegram that at least 10 people were killed and 31 injured in the attack in the city. He mentioned that of the 30 injured, 10 were in critical condition.

With inputs from agencies.