The Ukraine-Russia war has taken a devastating turn with a recent hypersonic missile attack on a children’s hospital in Kyiv, leaving nine people dead. This tragic event is part of a larger aerial assault that has claimed the lives of at least 31 people and injured nearly 130 others across multiple Ukrainian cities.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani condemned the attack, labeling it a “war crime” that must be denounced by the international community. The missile strike on the hospital injured 16 people, including seven children. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed retaliation, describing the attack as an act of “genocide.”
“They beat the cities, where there were many people. They hit the children’s hospital. There are children. It is a terror that the world must see and respond to. This is genocide,” said Andriy Yermak, Zelensky’s chief of staff.
Russia, however, denied targeting civilian facilities and claimed, without evidence, that the damage was caused by a Ukrainian air defense missile.
The attack has drawn widespread condemnation. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy called it an “appalling attack on Ukrainian civilians,” emphasizing the UK’s unwavering support for Ukraine. The United Nations Security Council is set to meet to discuss the attack, with several countries, including the UK, France, Ecuador, Slovenia, and the US, calling for the meeting.
Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin announced that Ukraine would cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate the attack. “We are sending all information and evidence about attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities to the ICC prosecutor’s office,” he said.
The emotional toll of the attack was evident as Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina broke down in tears at Wimbledon. “It’s an incredibly sad day today for all Ukrainians,” she said after winning her fourth-round match. “It was really difficult for me to be here and do anything. I just wanted to be in my room, just be there with my emotions.”
The missile strike on the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital in Kyiv caused a two-story wing of the hospital to partially collapse, forcing the evacuation of patients. Rescuers are still searching through the rubble, and volunteers have formed lines to pass bricks and other debris to each other.
The attack has also prompted calls for a ceasefire, but Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak warned that such calls would only encourage further Russian attacks. “The leaders of Hungary and China once again demanded ‘an immediate ceasefire’… And its purpose is to create a false feeling: the aggressor has the right to kill, because he speaks of ‘peace’, and the victim should not defend himself,” Podolyak said.
In response to the attack, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced a day of mourning in the city. Flags will be flown at half-mast on municipal buildings, and private businesses have been urged to lower theirs. Entertainment events will be banned, and TV channels and radio stations are being asked to make changes to their broadcasts.
The timing of the attack is significant, coming on the eve of a NATO summit in Washington. Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed it targeted “objects of the Ukrainian military-industrial infrastructure,” but denied targeting civilian infrastructure. The ministry blamed the destruction on a Ukrainian air defense missile, asserting that Kyiv’s actions were intended to garner support from NATO.
As world leaders prepare to gather for the NATO summit, Zelensky called on Kyiv’s allies to give a firm response to the attack. “I would also like to hear from our partners (about) a greater resilience and a strong response to the blow that Russia has once again dealt to our people, to our land, to our children,” he said. “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?”
The attack has also highlighted the ongoing information war between Russia and Ukraine. Russia’s verbal offensive, coupled with the physical attack, seems aimed at showing its strength and undermining Western support for Ukraine. The presence of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Moscow further complicates the geopolitical landscape, as India has become a key trading partner for Russia despite Western sanctions.
In the Dnipro region, at least 11 people were killed and 68 injured in Russian missile strikes. Among the wounded were three teenagers from the city of Kryvyi Rih. Dnipro regional governor Serhii Lysak described the attacks as relentless, with people having little time to recover between strikes.
As the conflict continues to escalate, the international community faces increasing pressure to respond to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ukraine. The attack on the children’s hospital in Kyiv serves as a stark reminder of the war’s devastating impact on civilians, particularly the most vulnerable.
Source: Various News Agencies
