At least 20 people have been killed in a devastating missile attack launched by Russia against cities across Ukraine, officials report.
In the capital city of Kyiv, a rare daytime attack claimed the lives of at least seven people. The city’s mayor revealed that a children’s hospital was hit by the missile strike, prompting an urgent evacuation.
The head of the military administration in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih confirmed that at least 10 people had been killed there, with three more fatalities reported in the eastern town of Pokrovsk.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, currently in Poland and set to attend the Nato summit in Washington, condemned the attack, stating that Russia had fired around 40 missiles at various targets across the country.
“Different cities: Kyiv, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Sloviansk, Kramatorsk. More than 40 missiles of various types. Residential buildings, infrastructure, and a children’s hospital were damaged,” Zelensky said.
Plumes of smoke billowed across Kyiv as videos on social media showcased the destruction both inside and outside the Okhmadyt children’s hospital. The extent of injuries within the hospital remains unclear, with Zelensky expressing concern for those trapped under the rubble.
Kyiv’s mayor, Vitaliy Klitschko, described the bombardment as the worst attack on the capital since the war began. Meanwhile, Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the military administration in Kryvy Rih, reported that 10 people were killed and 31 others wounded in the city, with 10 in critical condition.
Kryvy Rih, Zelensky’s hometown, has been a frequent target of Russian attacks since the invasion began in February 2022.
The missile onslaught coincided with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival in Moscow for a state visit to Russia, where he is scheduled to meet with President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin.
