A Russian missile struck a children’s hospital in Ukraine’s capital Monday, part of a barrage of aerial attacks on areas throughout the country that killed at least 20 people.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said rescuers were digging through rubble at Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital in Kyiv where the number of casualties was not yet known.
“Russia cannot claim ignorance of where its missiles are flying and must be held fully accountable for all its crimes. Against people, against children, against humanity in general,” Zelenskyy said on X. “It is very important that the world does not remain silent about this now, and that everyone sees what Russia is and what it is doing.”
Kyiv’s city military administration said the Russian attack killed at least seven people and damaged buildings in multiple districts.
Russian attacks also hit Zelenskyy’s home city of Kryvyi Rih, killing at least 10 people and wounding 31 others, according to Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the Kryvyi Rih's military administration.
In the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, authorities said missiles hit an industrial factory, killing at least three people.
“Russian terrorists have once again launched a massive missile attack on Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said. “Different cities — Kyiv, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Slovyansk, Kramatorsk. More than 40 missiles of various types. Apartment buildings, infrastructure, and a children's hospital have been damaged."
This photograph taken on July 8, 2024 shows burning cars at the site of a missile attack in Kyiv.
Ukraine’s air force said earlier Monday the country’s air defenses had shot down three Kh-101 cruise missiles over the Cherkasy and Zhytomyr regions.
The Russian attack overnight also included a fourth Kh-101 missile, as well as two Iskander-M ballistic missiles, the Ukrainian air force said.
Serhiy Lysak, governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, said on Telegram that Russian forces attacked several villages with kamikaze drones and artillery, injuring four people and damaging a number of buildings.
In the central region of Sumy, the regional military administration said on Telegram that Russian aerial drones dropped explosives on three communities.
Russia’s defense ministry reported Monday its air defenses destroyed two Ukrainian aerial drones over the Belgorod and Voronezh regions.
The governor of Voronezh said no injuries or damage were reported.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping said Monday the international community should work to create the conditions for Russia and Ukraine to hold direct negotiations.
Xi made the remarks during a visit by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Chinese state media said.
Orban’s trip to China came days after he had similar talks in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin that were criticized by Ukraine and the European Union.
Some information for this story was provided by Reuters