Ukrainian women cradle sick children outside hospital after horror Russian strike
Photographs of the Russian strike on Kyiv's Ohmatdyt Children's Hospital show sick children thrown out onto the streets as hero rescue workers and hospital staff do everything they can to help
Russia has destroyed a children's hospital in a horror missile strike - leaving mothers cradling their sick children in the rubble outside.
Harrowing images from the scene showed children bloodied and injured, and there are fears other youngsters were buried in the rubble of the collapsed Ohmatdyt Children's Hospital in Kyiv. At least 17 people were killed in Ukraine's capital, with many seriously wounded.
Other cities, such as Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Slov'yansk and Krematorsk, were also hit in a brutal attack from dictator Vladimir Putin’s forces that appeared to directly target civilians. In Kryvyi Rih, birthplace of President Volodymyr Zelensky, ten were reported dead, with 31 wounded.
Putin launches missile strike on Ukraine children's hospital in 'genocidal' attack
A source told Ukrainian Pravda that some of the victims were in the hospital, and on Monday debris was being cleared by rescuers who pleaded for silence to hear any cries from anyone buried under the rubble. Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko urged residents to stay in shelters.
Responding to the devastating hospital attack on Monday, Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X (formerly Twitter): "There are people under the rubble, and the exact number of casualties is still unknown. Right now, everyone is helping to clear the rubble – doctors and ordinary people. Russia cannot claim ignorance of where its missiles are flying and must be held fully accountable for all its crimes. Against people, against children, against humanity in general. It is very important that the world does not remain silent about this now, and that everyone sees what Russia is and what it is doing."
It comes just ahead of a major NATO meeting on Tuesday, where world leaders including new UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will meet to draw out their plans for supporting Ukraine. In a tweet posted earlier today, he wrote: "Attacking innocent children. The most depraved of actions. We stand with Ukraine against Russian aggression - our support won’t falter."
Another target appeared to be an unfinished business centre near the Lukyanovskaya metro station in the centre of Kyiv. In Krematorsk, the Russian Armed Forces hit a machine-building plant, with a column of smoke seen rising above it.
1 of 14 Reduced to rubble
An injured hospital worker watches on as rescue efforts begin on the devastated site
(Image:Madeleine Kelly/Zuma Press/eyevine)2 of 14 Scenes of devastation
A woman carries a girl next to a heavily damaged building of the Ohmatdyt Children's Hospital
(Image:AFP via Getty Images)3 of 14 Heroes ready to help
Medical personnel stand amid the rubble of the destroyed building of the hospital
(Image:AFP via Getty Images)4 of 14 Burning wreckage
The new wave of attacks on Ukrainian cities came hours before a new NATO summit
(Image:AFP via Getty Images)5 of 14 In safe hands
A woman carries a child near the bombed hospital
(Image:REUTERS)
6 of 14 Rescue efforts continue
Workers going through the rubble in the aftermath
(Image:AFP via Getty Images)7 of 14 Woman found in the rubble
Emergency and rescue personnel carry a wounded woman
(Image:AFP via Getty Images)8 of 14 Helpless children caught up in war
Sick children bore the brunt of Russia's latest attack
(Image:REUTERS)
9 of 14 Blown to pieces
The damaged interior of Ohmatdyt Children's Hospital
(Image:AP)10 of 14 Families affected
Patients look on and await help after the missile strike
(Image:REUTERS)11 of 14 Too much to bear
Ukrainian families take shelter during an alarm in the basement of the hospital
(Image:AFP via Getty Images)
12 of 14 Extent of the horror blast
A massive crowd of workers clear the rubble
(Image:AFP via Getty Images)13 of 14 Thrown onto the streets
Medical staff with their young patients outside the hospital
(Image:Global Images Ukraine via Getty)14 of 14 Latest victims of the war
A view of the buildings damaged by the rocket strike
(Image:Anadolu via Getty Images)