The morning of Monday, July 8, for Ukrainians began with tears, grief and pain. Russian troops carried out sudden barbaric combined missile attacks on the main children’s hospital of Ukraine “Okhmatdyt” and the medical clinic “Adonis” in Kyiv. This inhumane attack caused widespread outrage and condemnation from the international community.
According to Ukrainian media, at least 34 people, including children, were killed as a result of the attacks on Okhmatdyt. Many of the victims were trapped under the rubble of destroyed buildings. Rescue services have already completed clearing the wreckage to search for survivors. After such a cynical and barbaric shelling, a total of 129 buildings were damaged, dozens of people were injured, including children and medical personnel who were seriously injured.
At the Adonis medical clinic, 7 people died, including patients and clinic staff. The destruction of the hospital and clinic led to significant material losses and created serious problems in providing medical care to the victims. The destruction of medical equipment and infrastructure further aggravated the situation, leaving many people without the help they needed.
After the strike, Russia cynically stated that they allegedly carried out a missile strike on the Artem military plant. At the same time, they forgot to mention hitting civilian targets. And regarding Okhmatdyt, traditionally, in the manner of liars, they continue to blame the Ukrainian air defense. Meanwhile, the Security Service of Ukraine reported that the attack on a children’s hospital in the Shevchenko region was carried out by an air-launched cruise missile X-101. The agency also distributed photographs of rocket fragments that were found at the scene of the attack as evidence. A video was also published online, which clearly shows the missile approaching the Okhmatdyt building.
This barbaric act provoked a strong reaction from the international community. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack, calling it a “monstrous violation of international humanitarian law.” European Union officials said the attack on Okhmatdyt could be investigated as a war crime. The UN Security Council urgently convened a meeting to discuss what happened, condemning Russia’s actions as unjustified and barbaric.
In his speech at a meeting of the UN Security Council, the Ukrainian representative emphasized that such attacks represent the systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure and civilians. He called on the international community to strengthen sanctions against Russia and provide Ukraine with additional military and humanitarian assistance.
In addition to Kyiv, Russian troops also attacked other regions of Ukraine. In the Kharkov region, a rocket hit a multi-storey residential building, killing two and injuring 35 people. In Avdiivka, rockets hit a local hospital, resulting in the death of four people. Artillery and rocket attacks continue in other regions of the country, causing enormous damage to civilians and infrastructure.
The international community continues to express its solidarity with Ukraine and condemn Russia’s actions. The leaders of the G7 countries and the European Union announced the need to increase sanctions pressure on Russia and increase military assistance to Ukraine. They also called for an independent investigation into war crimes committed by Russian forces and for those responsible to be brought to justice.
The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said that the European Union will provide additional humanitarian assistance to Ukraine to restore the destroyed infrastructure and support the victims. She stressed that attacks on medical facilities, especially children’s hospitals, are a gross violation of international law and must be stopped immediately.
The missile attacks on Ukraine’s main children’s hospital and the Adonis medical clinic demonstrate the cruelty and inhumanity of Russian military actions. The international community must unite and take decisive action to protect the civilian population of Ukraine and stop barbaric attacks on civilian targets. Russia must be held accountable for its actions and immediately stop attacks on medical facilities and civilians.
