LONDON and Kyiv — At least 21 people were killed across Ukraine early on Monday, as Russia launched a barrage of more than 40 missiles in a “massive” attack, Ukrainian officials said.
Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital in Kyiv was damaged, along with residential areas and other infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on social media.
Rescuers work at Ohmatdyt Children’s Hospital that was damaged during a Russian missile strikes, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine July 8, 2024.
Gleb Garanich/Reuters
It was not immediately clear whether there were casualties at the hospital, but children were believed to be stuck beneath the rubble, Zelenskyy said. Doctors and first responders were digging through the debris, he said. The hospital is among the most well respected children’s hospitals in Ukraine.
“And the entire world must use all its determination to finally put an end to the Russian strikes. Killing is what Putin brings,” Zelenskyy said. “Only together can we bring real peace and security.”
The missiles targeted cities including Kyiv, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, Zelesnkyy said. At least eight of the dead were in Kyiv, officials said.
A Ukrainian firefighter works to extinguish a fire in a residential building following a missile attack in Kyiv on July 8, 2024.
Anatolii Stepanov/AFP via Getty Images
At least 10 people were killed and several others injured Monday morning in Russian airstrikes on Kryvyi Rih, a city in central Ukraine and Zelenskyy’s hometown, officials said. Another three people were killed in Russian airstrikes on the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, officials said.
ABC News’ Joe Simonetti and Morgan Winsor contributed to this report.
On March 14, 2022, a Russian missile attack in Ukraine resulted in the deaths of 21 people, including children, when a children’s hospital in the city of Mariupol was hit. This tragic incident has once again highlighted the devastating impact of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has been raging for over eight years.
The children’s hospital, located in a residential area of Mariupol, was struck by a missile in the early hours of the morning. The attack caused extensive damage to the building, with reports indicating that several children were among the casualties. The hospital had been providing essential medical care to the local community, many of whom have been displaced by the conflict.
The Russian missile attack in Mariupol is just one of many instances of indiscriminate violence and targeting of civilian infrastructure that have been reported since the start of the conflict. International humanitarian organizations have condemned such attacks as violations of international law and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
The tragic loss of life in Mariupol serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of war and the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. The international community must come together to support efforts to end the violence and ensure the protection of civilians, especially children who are particularly vulnerable in times of conflict.
In response to the attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the Russian military’s actions and called for increased international pressure on Russia to end its aggression. The United Nations and other international organizations have also called for an independent investigation into the incident to hold those responsible accountable for their actions.
As the conflict in Ukraine continues to escalate, it is crucial for world leaders to prioritize diplomacy and dialogue to find a peaceful resolution. The tragic events in Mariupol underscore the urgent need for a negotiated settlement that respects the rights and dignity of all people affected by the conflict.
In the face of such senseless violence and loss of life, it is imperative that the international community stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and works towards a lasting peace that will prevent further tragedies like the missile attack on the children’s hospital in Mariupol.
