(Scypre.com) – A missile strike tore through a children’s hospital in Kyiv, Ukraine on Monday, leaving a trail of destruction and igniting global outrage. The brazen attack, which occurred during morning rush hour, is interesting as multiple sources are suggesting that Ukrainian air defense bombed their own territory, while others say it was an orchestrated attack from Russia.
The devastating assault resulted in at least 36 confirmed deaths and left 137 others wounded across multiple Ukrainian cities, according to Ukraine’s emergency service. Among the casualties were 22 fatalities in the capital alone, with an additional two lives lost and numerous injuries reported at the Okhmatdyt hospital, the country’s largest pediatric medical center.
The strike on Okhmatdyt, a critical facility known for its specialized care of children with severe illnesses like cancer and hematological disorders, sent shockwaves through the global community. Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman, underscored the hospital’s significance, stating, “Every year, around 7,000 surgeries are conducted here.”
Eyewitness accounts and chilling videos from the scene depicted frantic rescue efforts amid smoke and rubble as volunteers, emergency responders, and anguished parents raced against time to save lives. Natalia Sardudinova, a senior nurse at the hospital, recounted the chaos, saying, “It was scary, but we survived.” She described how medical staff hustled children into corridors for safety as the building shook from the impact.
Yulia Vasylenko, whose 11-year-old son Denys is battling cancer, described the terror of the evacuation: “My son has been without medication for half a day. There was smoke and heavy dust.” Nurses like Iryna Filimonova and Oksana Mosiychuk shared their harrowing experiences, detailing the frantic efforts to save patients amid the chaos and ensuing fires.
In response to the international outcry, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack as a heinous war crime and called for an emergency session of the UN Security Council. He emphasized the need for urgent humanitarian aid and demanded increased support from Western allies to bolster Ukraine’s defenses against further Russian aggression.
The assault on Okhmatdyt hospital adds to a grim tally of attacks on medical facilities in Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The World Health Organization reported over 1,600 instances of heavy weapon strikes on medical centers, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries.
Global leaders swiftly denounced the strike, with calls for accountability and justice resonating from capitals around the world. The United States, European nations, and international organizations condemned the attack as a blatant violation of international law and human decency.