Ukraine is observing a day of mourning following one of the deadliest waves of Russian missile strikes in recent months, resulting in at least 41 deaths and 166 injuries. Among the structures hit was Kyiv’s primary children’s hospital.
The Ohmatdyt Children’s Hospital, Ukraine’s largest pediatric facility, was partially destroyed by a missile, causing the deaths of two people. The search for survivors continued into early Tuesday.
Russia denied targeting the hospital, claiming it was struck by fragments of a Ukrainian air defense missile, while Ukraine reported finding remnants of a Russian cruise missile.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack as “brutal” and labeled Russian President Vladimir Putin a “bloody criminal.”
NATO is set to hold a summit in Washington, with the response to the invasion of Ukraine being a key topic.
Global leaders have expressed their condemnation of the attack. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called it “the most depraved of actions” and pledged continued support for Kyiv.
US President Joe Biden described the strikes as a “horrific reminder of Russia’s brutality” and announced upcoming aid for Ukraine’s air defense systems.
President Zelensky stated that Russia launched over 40 missiles on Monday, damaging nearly 100 buildings in Kyiv, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Sloviansk, and Kramatorsk.
Images from the scene at the Kyiv hospital, which specializes in cancer treatment and organ transplants, showed children with IV drips sitting outside the damaged facility awaiting evacuation. Rescue teams and medics were working to find survivors.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that 16 people, including seven children, were injured in the hospital strike.
He described the attacks as some of the worst Kyiv has faced since the war began, and ordered flags to be flown at half-mast on Tuesday while canceling entertainment events.
In response to the tragedy, Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina wore a black ribbon during her match at Wimbledon on Monday.
Fighting back tears, she said: “It wasn’t easy to focus today on the match.
Since the morning it was difficult to read the news. To go on the court is extremely tough.”
The UN’s human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine reported that civilian casualties have been rising as Russia renews its air campaign. May was cited as the deadliest month for civilian deaths in nearly a year.
Meanwhile, the governor of the Rostov region in southern Russia reported a fire at a power plant on Tuesday morning, claiming Ukraine had launched “tens” of drones.
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