Death toll from Ukraine bombings rises to 37: Russia ‘strikes mercilessly’

A wave of Russian bombings in Ukraine left on Monday At least 37 dead in various parts of the country and hit two hospitals, one of them for children, prompting international condemnation ahead of a NATO summit.

>>>Attack on children’s hospital shows ‘there is no safe place for children in Ukraine’: UNICEF

The bombings raise questions about the state of Ukraine’s air defences after previous attacks damaged power infrastructure and military airports.

“Russian terrorists again launched massive missile attacks on Ukraine“, declared Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, detailing that infrastructure and a children’s hospital “were damaged.”

Las The cities that affect my son are Kiev, Dnipro, Krivoi Rog, Sloviansk and Kramatorsklocated in the centre and east of the former Soviet republic, invaded by Russia in February 2022, Zelensky said.

Zelensky, who was in Warsaw on Monday, called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council and a “stronger response” from Western powers to Russia.

The consequences of the Russian bombings reflect the wear and tear of Ukraine’s anti-aircraft defences, which lack Western systems.

In kyivwhere two medical centers were hit by shells, including a major pediatric hospital, 22 people died and 72 others were injured.according to emergency services.

“One of the most important children’s hospitals in Europe,” the one in Okhmatdyt, was damagedZelenski denounced on the X social network.

“Russia cannot claim to be unaware of where its missiles are falling and must take full responsibility,” he added.

At least 37 people have died, including three children, and more than 170 have been injured.Zelensky said after the barrage of 38 missiles, of which 30 were shot down, according to the Air Force.

Authorities in the capital declared a day of mourning on Tuesday and cancelled all entertainment events.

Russia ‘mercilessly attacks Ukrainian civilians’

Russia denied responsibility for the bombings, saying it targeted “military facilities.” Images show the damage was caused by Ukrainian anti-aircraft missiles, it said.

“For some reason we always thought Okhmatdyt was protected,” Nina, a 68-year-old employee at the children’s hospital, told AFP.

Following the attacks, the US President Joe Biden on Monday promised “new measures” to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses.

In a statement, Biden said the United States and its allies would announce the new assistance at this week’s NATO summit in Washington.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the attacks on the hospital and another medical centre “particularly shocking,” his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Russia is “mercilessly attacking Ukrainian civilians,” EU foreign minister Josep Borrell saidafter the daytime bombings.

UN humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine Denise Brown “strongly” condemned the bombings and said the deaths of children were “unconscionable”.

France also denounced “barbaric acts”, the United Kingdom an “atrocious attack” and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau an “odious” act.

“It is very important that the world does not remain silent and that everyone sees what Russia is doing,” Zelensky said. from Poland, where he observed a minute of silence for the victims.

Hundreds of people, including rescuers, relatives and police, rushed to help the victims and remove the rubble to find survivors in kyiv.

The Russian army regularly attacks the interior of Ukrainian territory, targeting mainly energy facilities and factories.

The bombing “destroyed or damaged” three power substations in the city and hit several industrial sites, energy operator DTEK said.

Ukraine has only a limited number of air defence systems and ammunition, and demands more from its Western allies..

NATO Summit

Monday’s bombings come at a time when the Russian army has been gaining ground on the front line for months and is trying to take advantage of the Ukrainian army’s difficulties to replenish its ranks and obtain more weapons and ammunition from the West.

The Ukrainian president travelled to Warsaw before travelling to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) summit in Washington.

There he signed a security cooperation agreement with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

Tuesday’s summit will address support for kyiv and the uncertainties that could arise if Donald Trump wins the US presidential election in November.

The former Republican president has repeatedly said he would end the war very quickly, which would directly affect Ukrainians who have been resisting the Russian invasion for nearly two and a half years.

>>>Russia threatened the United States with retaliation and accused it of “killing Russian children”