A Russian strike hit a crowded children’s hospital in central kyiv on Monday, part of a large-scale airstrike that has killed at least 20 people in several cities across Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said at least 40 long-range missiles were fired at targets across the country in the deadly salvo, and people were trapped under the rubble of the children’s hospital. Damage was also reported in central and eastern Ukraine, raising questions about the state of Ukraine’s air defenses ahead of a meeting of NATO leaders in Washington to discuss how to strengthen them.
At least 50 people were injured in the shooting, according to Ihor Klymenko, the head of the Interior Ministry. Authorities have warned that the toll could rise.
In kyiv, local authorities said at least 15 people were killed and 38 others injured. It was not yet clear how many casualties there were. Ohmatdyt Children’s Hospital or elsewhere in the city, where fires were reported after debris from missiles fired from the sky crashed into residential neighborhoods.
The children’s hospital is the largest in Ukraine. Shortly after the attack, a woman was carrying a small child covered in dust and blood near the entrance.
A desperate search and rescue operation was underway Monday afternoon. Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko said more than 100 rescue workers were on the scene. Outside the hospital, civilians formed a human chain to help clear the rubble brick by brick.
Doctors and others at the hospital, which treats 20,000 children a year, shared images of blood-stained corridors, collapsed ceilings and destroyed operating rooms.
Dr. Tymofii Dvorovyi, a surgeon at the hospital, said he managed to get his patients into the air raid shelter just before the strike.
“I don’t know about other departments,” he said. “There were surgeons operating when the missile hit.”
After the explosion, he said, he saw dozens of “seriously injured” people staggering through the hallways.
The most significant damage was to a two-story medical building located about 150 meters from the main hospital, with the structure completely collapsing. The explosion also shattered windows in the main hospital and sent shrapnel into the building.
“We are now evacuating patients to another hospital,” Dr. Dvorovyi said.
Ukrainian Health Minister Viktor Lyashko said intensive care units, operating rooms and the oncology department had all suffered damage.
Mr Zelensky condemned the attack on the hospital, which he said “saved and restored the health of thousands of children”.
“Russia cannot pretend to be ignorant of where its missiles are flying and must be held fully accountable for all its crimes,” he said in a statement. “It is very important that the world does not remain silent on this and that everyone sees what Russia is and what it is doing.”
