July 8th 2024.
KYIV, Ukraine - The sound of explosions and the sight of destruction filled the air in Ukraine on Monday as Russian missiles rained down on cities across the country. The attack was a brutal and unprovoked assault that caused widespread damage and loss of life. The country's largest children's hospital was hit, interrupting critical surgeries and forcing young cancer patients to receive treatment outside.
According to officials, at least 31 people were killed and over 150 were injured in the barrage. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared on social media that more than 40 missiles of different types were launched from Russia, with the Ukrainian air force successfully intercepting 30 of them. It was the most intense bombing of Kyiv in almost four months, with seven of the city's 10 districts targeted.
The attack also hit the president's birthplace, Kryvyi Rih, where 10 people lost their lives. However, the most devastating blow was dealt to the Okhmatdyt children's hospital in Kyiv. The hospital was already struggling to cope with the ongoing conflict when the missiles hit, causing debris to fall into the open chests of heart surgery patients and forcing cancer patients to have their beds wheeled outside onto the streets.
President Zelenskyy spoke out against the attack, urging the world not to turn a blind eye to Russia's actions. Russia, however, denied targeting the hospital and claimed the strikes were aimed at military targets. The assault came just one day before a NATO summit in Washington, where Western leaders were set to discuss how to support Ukraine and offer hope for a resolution to the conflict.
Zelenskyy also expressed his hope for more air defense systems to be provided to Ukraine during the summit. US President Joe Biden condemned the missile strikes as a horrific reminder of Russia's brutality, emphasizing the need for continued support for Ukraine in this critical moment.
The devastation caused by the bombing was evident at the children's hospital, where rescuers searched through rubble for victims as smoke rose from the building. Windows and doors were blown out, and walls were blackened, with blood spattered on the floor. Health Minister Viktor Liashko shared that at the time of the strike, three heart surgeries were taking place, resulting in contamination from blast debris.
The hospital lost essential services such as water, light, and oxygen, forcing patients to be transferred to other facilities. Rescue efforts were hindered by a second air raid, which sent people hurrying to the hospital's shelter. Mothers carried their injured children, and volunteers handed out candy to try and calm the frightened patients.
The attack on the children's hospital has sparked outrage and condemnation from international leaders. Volker Türk, the UN human rights commissioner, described the targeting of the hospital as abominable, and called on those with influence to put a stop to the attacks immediately. Kyiv has declared a day of mourning, with July 9th dedicated to honoring the victims of the attack.
Ukraine's Security Service has opened proceedings on war crime charges, claiming to have found wreckage from a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile at the site. However, Russia has denied targeting any civilian facilities and accused Ukraine's air defense system of causing the damage. The ongoing conflict between the two nations has resulted in over 1,600 medical facilities being damaged, with 214 completely destroyed.
Col. Yurii Ignat from the Ukrainian air force shared that Russia has been using more advanced weapons, such as Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, which fly at 10 times the speed of sound, making them hard to intercept. As the world continues to condemn Russia's actions, the UN Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting to address the attacks and the International Criminal Court has stated that intentionally targeting hospitals is a war crime.
The people of Ukraine continue to suffer from the ongoing conflict, with Monday's missile strikes being the latest in a long line of devastating attacks. The hope now is that the international community will take action to put an end to the violence and support Ukraine in its time of need.
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