Rescue workers are diligently clearing debris in Ukraine as the nation mourns the devastating impact of Russian missile strikes that hit a children’s hospital and sparked international condemnation.
President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that 38 people, including four children, were killed, and 190 others were wounded in the barrage of nearly 40 missiles targeting multiple towns and cities.
Officials declared a day of mourning in the capital, with flags flown at half-mast and entertainment events postponed. At the Okhmatdyt pediatric hospital, cranes and first responders continued their efforts to clear the rubble.
“The rescue operation after yesterday’s Russian missile attack continues,” Zelensky announced on social media, noting that patients from Okhmatdyt had been transferred to other facilities. He emphasized the ongoing work to enhance the protection of Ukrainian cities and communities from Russian attacks, asserting that decisive actions would be taken.
Zelensky has been urging international allies to strengthen Ukrainian air defense systems and is expected to reiterate this call as a NATO summit commences in Washington.
Additionally, he has called for a United Nations Security Council meeting in response to the strikes that claimed around 10 lives in his hometown of Kryvyi Rih.
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At the Okhmatdyt complex, approximately 400 rescuers, joined by hundreds of volunteers, are engaged in clearing rubble and searching for survivors. City officials reported that two people—a doctor and a visitor—were killed at the hospital, with potential victims still trapped under the debris.
Ukraine identified the missile that struck the children’s hospital as a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile. In contrast, Moscow attributed the damage to Ukrainian air defense systems.
The Kremlin maintained its stance that Russian forces exclusively target military infrastructure and deferred further inquiries to the defense ministry.
Russian attacks on Ukraine persisted overnight, resulting in two people wounded in the southern Kherson region and three more injured in the Zaporizhzhia region—areas that the Kremlin claims as part of Russia.
The situation remains tense as Ukraine grapples with the aftermath of these attacks and the ongoing threat posed by further missile strikes.
