8-7-2024 (KYIV) In a devastating turn of events, Okhmatdyt, Ukraine’s largest children’s medical center, became the latest target of Russian missile strikes on July 8th. President Volodymyr Zelensky reported the tragic news, stating, “The hospital has been damaged by a Russian attack, people are under the rubble, and the exact number of wounded and dead is currently unknown.”
The horrific attack has sent shockwaves through the nation, as the world grapples with the reality of a children’s hospital being targeted in the midst of the ongoing conflict. President Zelensky’s words painted a heartbreaking picture, “Everyone helps to clear out the debris: doctors, regular people.”
Kyiv is under Russian attack since early morning. Critical infrastructure, residential buildings, and the children’s hospital “Okhmatdyt,” where over a hundred children were present, have been hit by missile strikes. My condolences! Kyiv, stay strong! pic.twitter.com/2SeEuoaTmo
— Yuliia Paievska (Taira) (@taira_paievska) July 8, 2024
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that patients from the struck children’s hospital are being evacuated to the municipal hospital, underscoring the urgency of the situation and the need for immediate medical assistance.
This latest assault on a civilian target comes as Russia launched an aerial missile attack against Ukraine on the morning of July 8th, the second such strike in a matter of hours. Cities across the country, including Kyiv, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Sloviansk, Pokrovsk, and Kramatorsk, came under attack. According to President Zelensky, around 40 missiles of various types were launched against Ukraine, escalating the already tense situation.
Telegram monitoring channels reported that the missiles entered Ukrainian airspace around 10 a.m., with launches of Kinzhal ballistic missiles also detected, raising further concerns about the scale and severity of the assault.
The casualty toll continues to rise, with Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reporting that 20 people have been killed and another 50 injured, though these numbers are subject to change as the situation unfolds.
