Kyiv, Ukraine – The aftermath of a devastating Russian missile strike on Ukraine’s largest children’s hospital left rescuers scrambling to search through the rubble for more casualties on Tuesday. The attack, which authorities claim leveled a wing of the Kyiv facility, resulted in at least 42 confirmed deaths across the country. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy detailed that 64 people were hospitalized in the capital, with additional patients in Kryvyi Rih and Dnipro, both located in central Ukraine.
This bombardment marked Russia’s heaviest assault on Kyiv in nearly four months and was one of the deadliest incidents in the ongoing war. The strike affected seven of the capital’s districts, resulting in international outrage, especially over the targeting of the Okhmatdyt children’s hospital. The hospital, a 10-story facility catering to 627 patients at the time of the attack, suffered extensive damage. The hospital’s director general estimated the overall damage at $2.5 million.
Despite the chaos, heroic actions emerged amid the tragedy. Pediatric surgeon Oleh Holubchenko shared his harrowing experience of operating on a baby with congenital face defects during the missile strike. The blast caused injuries to Holubchenko and pierced the infant’s ventilator, necessitating the transfer of the infant to another hospital for surgery completion.
As efforts were underway to restore essential services to the hospital, Kyiv city declared a day of mourning, reflecting on the profound loss from the attack. The hospital strike drew global condemnation, leading to an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council where Russia was confronted over its denial of responsibility. The ongoing investigations by the International Criminal Court in The Hague indicated potential war crimes charges.
In the wake of this tragedy, Pope Francis expressed his sorrow and shock at the escalating violence in Ukraine. The Russian assault coincided with a NATO summit in Washington, underscoring the urgency for alliance nations to pledge support for Ukraine. The timing of Russian President Vladimir Putin hosting India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Moscow drew criticism from Zelenskyy, who denounced the visit amidst the ongoing bloodshed.
Amidst the chaos, reports emerged of Ukrainian drones targeting Russian regions overnight, signaling a shift in the conflict dynamics. The aerial attacks by Kyiv’s forces intensified, prompting responses from Russian defense systems. The escalating violence underscores the pressing need for international intervention to halt the growing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.