Russian missile attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities have killed at least 35 civilians and injured more than 100, as Ukraine sought an emergency UN security council meeting over a barrage that included a deadly strike on its biggest children’s hospital.
Ukraine said it shot down 30 of the 38 rockets fired by Russia on Monday morning – which included its most advanced Kinzhal and Zircon missiles – but failed to prevent strikes on central Kyiv that killed at least 22 people and injured more than 70, and attacks on the eastern cities of Kryvyi Rih, Dnipro and Pokrovsk.
Several missiles landed on and close to Kyiv’s Ohmatdyt children’s hospital, killing at least two people, wounding 17 and forcing the evacuation of children with severe illnesses and with serious injuries caused by Russia’s invasion.
“We must hold Russia accountable for its acts of terror and [Vladimir] Putin for ordering the strikes. Every time there are attempts to discuss peace with him, Russia responds with attacks on homes and hospitals,” said Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy, referring to Russia’s autocratic leader of 20 years.
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“This is why we can only force Russia into peace, and we can only achieve this together with everyone in the world who truly seeks peace. This requires sufficient support, determination, truly joint action, and defence – shoulder to shoulder,” he added during a visit to neighbouring Poland.
“Ukraine is currently initiating an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council due to the Russian strike on civilian infrastructure, including the children’s hospital.”
Mr Zelenskiy has spent much of Moscow’s nearly 2½ year full invasion of Ukraine pleading with western allies to give it more air defence systems, modern fighter jets and long-range missiles that could strike airbases and other key military installations deep inside Russian territory; he has been repeatedly rebuffed over fears of “escalation”.
“We will retaliate against these people, we will deliver a powerful response from our side to Russia, for sure. The question to our partners is: can they respond?” said Mr Zelenskiy, who is expected to attend a Nato summit in Washington this week.
“As leaders gather for Nato’s 75th anniversary, Russia launched 40 missiles across Ukraine. This callous aggression – a total disregard for human life ... is why leaders will make significant security commitments to Ukraine this week,” said US ambassador to Kyiv Bridget Brink.
Several countries, including Ireland, condemned Russia’s attack, which came amid repeated strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure that have destroyed about half the country’s capacity to generate electricity.
Taoiseach Simon Harris said, in a post on X: “Putin’s war on Ukraine is openly targeting civilian infrastructure and innocent children. It is repugnant, it is a war crime.”
Tánaiste Micheál Martin said he was “appalled” by the strikes: “A state that commits war crimes by targeting sick children using hypersonic missiles has no interest in peace. We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”
Russia claims it does not target civilians in Ukraine and suggested a Ukrainian air defence missile hit Ohmatdyt.
EU officials also denounced the attacks, as Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban continued what he calls his “peace mission” by flying to China. Last week, when Hungary took over the rotating six-month presidency of the EU, he visited Kyiv and Moscow – even though he has no foreign policy mandate from the bloc.
“China is a key power in creating the conditions for peace in the Russia-Ukraine war,” Mr Orban said.
Hungary and China have called for a ceasefire, which Kyiv says Moscow would use to rearm and relaunch attacks.
Mr Orban says Russia cannot be beaten on the battlefield and seeks an end to western sanctions on the country, while Mr Xi is promoting a vague set of peace proposals that do not call for Russian troops to leave Ukraine.
