Deadly Russian Missile Strikes Devastate Ukraine Cities, Including Children's Hospital

KYIV, Ukraine — At least 31 people were killed and 154 injured in a major Russian missile attack across Ukraine on Monday, which included a devastating strike on a large children’s hospital in the capital of Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that more than 40 missiles targeted five Ukrainian cities, hitting apartment buildings and public infrastructure. Ukraine's air force intercepted 30 of the missiles, but significant damage and casualties were reported across multiple locations.

In Kyiv, strikes killed seven people and injured 25, with the Okhmatdyt children’s hospital bearing a heavy toll. Rescue efforts at the hospital involved searching for victims under collapsed sections of the facility, where at least 16 people, including seven children, were injured. The hospital's main building sustained severe damage to critical departments like intensive care and oncology.

The attack prompted the evacuation of the hospital, leaving mothers carrying their children away amidst the chaos. Volunteers and emergency crews worked tirelessly amid smoke and debris, while another air raid siren forced more evacuations to the hospital’s shelter.

Ukraine’s Security Service reported finding wreckage from a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile at the hospital site and initiated war crime proceedings. Despite Russia's Defense Ministry claiming the strikes targeted military facilities, Ukrainian officials condemned the attacks on civilian infrastructure as inexcusable and a war of aggression.

The deadly barrage in Kyiv, among the heaviest bombardments in months, also partially destroyed a private medical center, resulting in four more deaths. In other districts of the capital, residential buildings and electricity substations were damaged or destroyed, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis gripping the city.

The Kinzhal hypersonic missiles used in the attack, capable of speeds 10 times that of sound, posed additional challenges for Ukrainian defenses. As Western leaders convene for a NATO summit in Washington, condemnation of Russia’s actions has intensified, with calls for greater support to Ukraine and efforts to broker a ceasefire amid escalating violence.