Russia bombards Ukraine :

 Russia bombards Ukraine : 

Among the buildings 

Dozens are killed,  

Kyiv children’s hospital was hit.

8th July 2024

In a devastating turn of events, a major Russian missile attack unfolded across Ukraine on Monday, resulting in the loss of at least 31 lives and injuries to 154 people. The impact was particularly severe in Kyiv, where a large children’s hospital bore the brunt of the assault. Emergency crews now comb through the rubble, searching for survivors.

The daytime barrage targeted five Ukrainian cities, with more than 40 missiles striking apartment buildings and critical public infrastructure. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, taking to social media, emphasized the gravity of the situation. Fortunately, Ukraine’s air force managed to intercept 30 of the incoming missiles.

Kryvyi Rih, Zelenskyy’s birthplace in central Ukraine, suffered immense casualties—10 fatalities and 47 injuries—due to what city administration head Oleksandr Vilkul described as a massive missile attack. Meanwhile, in Kyiv, seven lives were tragically lost.

Zelenskyy’s plea echoed worldwide: “It is very important that the world should not be silent about it now and that everyone should see what Russia is and what it is doing.”

As Western leaders rally behind Ukraine, a three-day NATO summit in Washington begins tomorrow. Their goal: to reassure Kyiv of unwavering support and offer hope to a nation grappling with Europe’s most significant conflict since World War II. Zelenskyy, during a visit to Poland, expressed hope that the summit would yield additional air defense systems for Ukraine.

The Okhmatdyt children’s hospital in Kyiv suffered a direct hit. Rescuers tirelessly sift through the debris of a partially collapsed, two-story wing. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported at least 16 injuries, including seven children. The main 10-story building bears the scars of shattered windows, blown-out doors, and blackened walls. Blood stains the floor, and critical departments—the intensive care unit, operating theaters, and oncology wards—lie in ruins.

Volunteers form a human chain, passing bricks and debris to aid the search. Smoke still billows from the building, and emergency crews work diligently, their faces hidden behind protective masks. The hospital’s evacuation became necessary, leaving mothers carrying their children away, while others anxiously waited in the courtyard, desperate for news.

In the aftermath, another air raid siren pierces the air, sending mothers and children scurrying to the hospital’s shelter. Guided by flashlights through dark corridors, they carry bandaged children in their arms, while medical workers transport patients on gurneys. Volunteers offer candy, a small comfort amidst the chaos.

Marina Ploskonos, whose 4-year-old son underwent spinal surgery just days prior, tearfully expresses her fear: “My child is terrified. This shouldn’t be happening—it’s a children’s hospital.”

Ukraine’s Security Service discovered wreckage from a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile at the site, leading to war crime charges. The Kh-101, an air-launched missile designed to evade radar detection, met its match as Ukraine successfully shot down 11 of the 13 launched on that fateful Monday.

Czech President Petr Pavel minced no words, labeling the hospital attack “inexcusable.” He anticipates a consensus at the NATO summit, recognizing Russia as “the biggest threat for which we must be thoroughly prepared.”

Denise Brown, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine, decried the unconscionable act of striking a children’s hospital. Under international humanitarian law, hospitals enjoy special protection—a principle that must not be violated.

Russia’s Defense Ministry, however, denies targeting civilian facilities, claiming—without evidence—that the damage in Kyiv resulted from a Ukrainian air defense missile.

Since the early days of the war, now well into its third year, Russian officials have consistently denied targeting civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. However, this assertion contradicts reports from Kyiv officials and Associated Press investigations.

Colonel Yurii Ignat of the Ukrainian air force revealed that Russia has been enhancing the effectiveness of its airstrikes. Their missiles now feature so-called “heat traps,” designed to deflect air defense systems. These improvements were evident in Monday’s attack.

The cruise missiles flew at dangerously low altitudes—just 50 meters (160 feet) above the ground—making them challenging to intercept. In Kyiv, seven out of the city’s ten districts experienced the most intense Russian bombardment in nearly four months, resulting in seven fatalities and 25 injuries.

 

Shortly after the initial strikes, additional missiles hit Kyiv, partially destroying a private medical center. Tragically, four lives were lost there, according to Ukraine’s Emergency Service. Meanwhile, in the Shevchenkovskiy locale, a three-story area of a private building lay in ruins. Emergency crews worked tirelessly, recovering three bodies.

The impact was devastating. Nearby buildings bore the scars of shattered windows, scorched walls, and debris. Resident Halina Sichievka described the aftermath: “Now we don’t have anything in our apartment—no windows, no doors, nothing. Nothing at all.”

The Kinzhal hypersonic missiles responsible for the attack represent some of Russia’s most advanced weaponry. Flying at speeds ten times that of sound, they pose a formidable challenge for interception.

The city’s buildings trembled under the force of the blasts. Additionally, three electricity substations suffered damage or destruction in two Kyiv districts, as reported by energy company DTEK.