In a brutal escalation, a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile struck Kyiv’s largest children’s hospital, Okhmatdyt.
The hospital, a treatment centre for children with cancer, was part of a broader, deadly missile barrage that targeted multiple cities, including Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Sloviansk, and Kramatorsk.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy vowed retaliation.
“Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital in Kyiv. One of the most important CHILDREN’S hospitals not only in Ukraine, but also in Europe. Okhmatdyt has been saving and restoring the health of thousands of children. Now that the hospital has been damaged by a Russian strike, there are people under the rubble, and the exact number of casualties is still unknown.
Right now, everyone is helping to clear the rubble – doctors and ordinary people. 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. 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.”
The attack on Okhmatdyt hospital, the worst on Kyiv since the start of Russia’s invasion in February 2022, left five dead and at least four injured, according to Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko. Rescue operations are ongoing as hundreds of workers sift through the rubble for survivors. Health Minister Viktor Liashko confirmed the chaotic scene, “We are extracting whoever we can. We don’t know the number of people trapped there.”
Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital in Kyiv. One of the most important CHILDREN’S hospitals not only in Ukraine, but also in Europe. Okhmatdyt has been saving and restoring the health of thousands of children.
Now that the hospital has been damaged by a Russian strike, there are… pic.twitter.com/TmRlUmSBri
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 8, 2024
Parents and staff were frantically moving children to safety when the missile struck, leading to scenes of chaos and distress. The attack destroyed the hospital’s toxicology ward, making it unclear how many doctors and patients remained trapped under the rubble.
To all those trying to deny Russian war crimes. Clear footage of a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile hitting Ukraine’s largest children hospital in Kyiv. pic.twitter.com/R745SWFbUa
— Ostap Yarysh (@OstapYarysh) July 8, 2024
The attack is part of a broader strategy that Ukrainian officials say is targeting civilians. Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian president’s office, shared an image on social media showing a Russian missile moments before it struck the hospital, identifying it as a Kh-101 cruise missile. He condemned the attack as deliberate, stating, “They purposefully attacked the children today.”
This deadly wave of missile strikes, described as the heaviest since the war began, also hit residential buildings and infrastructure. Kyiv’s Mayor, Vitali Klitschko, confirmed the severity of the attack, noting that the capital had enjoyed a period of relative peace thanks to western-supplied air defences before this onslaught.
Good old Russia. You can always depend on them to keep lowering the bar when it comes to atrocities. They and their strategic partners must be very proud of themselves.
For those trolls, that are in denial that it was ruZZian,
there is image of the missile captured by local cam on Visegrad
lets go through the scripted russian talking points we’ll see, just like every other terrorist attack they commit: it was western air defense that hit it (russian cruise missile parts start showing up) well we didn’t target the hospital (video shows a kh-101 diving into it) actually it wasn’t a hospital!! (pictures of dead/injured kids come out) there were ukrainian soldiers under it!! (no one buys it) the CIA hacked the missile and crashed it into the hospital as a false flag the CIA forced the war to happen, so any tragedy lies with them. russia just wants peace one… Read more »
This is war and the innocent die in large numbers including children who are fighting their own battels to stay alive as seen at this hospital. There should be no holding back in equipping Ukraine with the weapons from the Free World it needs. Sadly, the Russians are learning from combat and are turning increasingly to technology for new MBT upgrades and other critical fighting vehicles, which must be matched by the West. Wars always advances the art of war fighting and this conflict is no different in that respect.
against the west russia wouldn’t be able to make gains at all as they are completely incapable of stopping western airpower- even the old stuff. their logistics would get complete smoked. russia would be hell to invade as they could just dig in as they’ve done and we’d have to fight through it- but they would have zero ability to do offense. such a shame the handcuffs that have been placed on ukraine by the west. russias fighting style is atrocious though- literally world war 1 tactics of meat waves- just keep sending barely trained men in to get slaughtered… Read more »
To flatline Russia’s capabilities would be unwise in my book. If necessary, they will put old ladies with kitchen knifes at the front if it becomes that desperate. The West must assume Russia’s intent is a threat to World peace and act accordingly.
Pretty indefensible. Luckily the death toll seems minimal.
The assumption the bombing of the hospital was an error makes me wonder just how random Russian targeting must be? Somehow, I fear it’s not and as you say indefensible.
I thought cruise missiles are pre programmed to fly along x route and land at x spot, like TLAM, using terrain features for guidance.
This cannot be error, unless their cruise missiles are as crap as their tactics and land randomly.
If so, may be MoD is right that we don’t have UK GBAD.
It’s also a worry that in the face this and other evidence of all that’s going on in Ukraine that certain other world leaders have recently met with Putin and his entourage. Where are all their head spaces at? Strength to Ukraine 🇺🇦 and its people, it’s president and armed forces and their right to defend their own country. Strength to democracy, human decency, rights and the rule of law around the world.
Well said 👍
Sadly Quentin, influence and money wins above morals. Most of Putin’s so called allies are opportunistic adventurists. Most appear to not hold the same values in regards to human life and when such parties combine efforts unnecessary loss of life are not a first consideration.
Time for the gloves to be taken off and thrown away and Ukraine to be given free reign to hit any military target in Russia.
I noticed the key word you used there MILITARY! How much longer can world ‘leaders’ stand by though and not call out these atrocities and name Russia a terrorist state?
Why are the gloves still on anyway? I know the UK has said Ukraine can attack military targets in Russia with our missiles. Some other countries have as well. How many years of war will it take before all Western military aid is given that way?
I think Ukraine needs to keep trying to push Russian forces from of its own sovereign territory first, reach the Asov and reclaim Mariupol and the Crimea with all the forces it can muster. If Russia continues throwing stuff over the fence then targetted responses are due and legitimate.
Do we know if this was actually targetted, or might the missiles have been fired at Kyiv not caring where they landed? The idea that this might have been a specific target is something I find hard to contemplate.
This was not random any more than the other targeting of civilian targets are as listed in the Geneva convention.
This was a deliberate act to
1) send a message to NATO leaders at the summit
2) continue their futile attempts to break Ukraines will.
Hopefully it will backfire.
Glad to see our Russian trolls have gone.
There’s no defence of this. Either this was deliberate (most likely in my opinion), or Russian missiles are utterly crap (and therefore they shouldn’t be firing them into dense urban areas).