Ukraine suffered a devastating onslaught on Monday as Russian missiles struck its capital and other cities, claiming the lives of at least 41 civilians, including children, in one of the deadliest air attacks in recent months.
In Kyiv, the main children’s hospital was hit in a brazen daylight assault, leaving residents stunned and devastated amidst shattered windows and debris-filled streets. Svitlana Kravchenko, a witness to the chaos, recounted, “It was scary. I couldn’t breathe; I was trying to cover my baby. I was trying to cover him with this cloth so that he could breathe.”
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, currently en route to a NATO summit in Washington after a stop in Poland, confirmed a death toll of 37, including three children, with over 170 others wounded.
However, the toll from various attack sites reached a grim total of 41.
Zelenskiy denounced the attacks in a message on Telegram, highlighting extensive damage to critical infrastructure such as hospitals, nurseries, and residential areas across multiple cities. “The Russian terrorists must answer for this,” he asserted. “Being concerned does not stop terror. Condolences are not a weapon.”
The assault, which prompted a national day of mourning, extended beyond Kyiv to include central cities like Kryvyi Rih and Dnipro, as well as eastern regions, where significant damage was reported.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko described the barrage as one of the war’s largest, devastating seven city districts. Health Minister reports indicated severe damage to the children’s hospital, forcing the evacuation of young patients to alternative facilities.
Elsewhere, in Dnipropetrovsk and the eastern town of Pokrovsk, casualties mounted as missiles struck industrial sites and residential areas, leaving at least 11 dead and dozens wounded.
In Warsaw, addressing a joint press conference with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Zelenskiy called for a robust international response. “We will retaliate against these people; we will deliver a powerful response from our side to Russia, for sure,” he vowed, urging NATO allies to stand firm.
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The attacks coincided with the eve of a NATO summit where leaders are set to discuss Ukraine’s ongoing conflict. U.S. President Joe Biden condemned the strikes, labeling them “a horrific reminder of Russia’s brutality” and pledging enhanced support for Ukraine’s defense.
As international condemnation mounted, the UN Security Council scheduled an urgent session for Tuesday, reflecting global alarm over the escalating humanitarian crisis.
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Moscow, for its part, maintained its strikes targeting military sites despite widespread civilian casualties, denying deliberate attacks on non-military infrastructure.
In response to the escalating violence, Ukraine’s Defence Minister Rustem Umerov appealed for urgent air defense support from Western allies, stressing the critical need for enhanced protection against Russian assaults.
Colonel Yuri Ignat of Ukraine’s Air Force underscored the increasing challenges in repelling Russian attacks, citing advancements in enemy missile technology designed to evade defense systems.
Meanwhile, infrastructure damage continued to mount with reports from DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private investor in the energy industry, indicating significant harm to electricity substations in Kyiv, exacerbating an already strained power supply.
As Ukraine braces for further confrontations, the international community faces renewed pressure to address the humanitarian and security crises unfolding in the heart of Europe.
