Kyiv Children’s Hospital Hit in Deadly Russian Daytime Strikes Across Ukraine

A series of Russian missile strikes across Ukraine have resulted in the deaths of at least 31 people and injuries to 125 others, severely damaging a key children’s hospital in Kyiv, according to Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Daytime Barrage

The attacks, which represent a rare large-scale daytime offensive, saw more than 40 aerial missiles launched at cities including Kyiv, Dnipro, Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s hometown of Kryvi Rih. In Kyiv alone, 20 people were killed and 61 injured, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported.

Impact on Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital

The Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital in Kyiv sustained significant damage, necessitating the transfer of patients to other medical facilities in the city. It remains unclear whether the hospital was directly hit or struck by missile debris. Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko reported that a doctor and another adult were killed at the hospital, with 16 people injured, including seven children.

“This is horror and genocide!” Klitschko declared on Telegram.

Broader Impact

Fatalities were also reported in Kryvi Rih, Dnipro, and Pokrovsk. Oleksandr Vilkul, head of Kryvi Rih’s local military administration, declared a day of mourning in response to the attack.

Russian Defense Ministry Response

The Russian Ministry of Defense refuted accusations of deliberate strikes on civilian sites, stating that its forces targeted Ukrainian military facilities and air bases with long-range precision weapons in response to Kyiv’s hostilities. “The strike’s objectives were achieved. The designated facilities were hit,” the ministry said in a statement.

Ongoing Conflict

This latest escalation underscores the severe and ongoing impact of the conflict on civilians and infrastructure across Ukraine, with international observers continuing to monitor the situation closely.