Zelensky vows retaliation as Russian missiles kill 36 in Ukraine, gut Kyiv children’s hospital

It was the biggest bombardment of Kyiv in months. The daylight attacks included hypersonic missiles, one of the most advanced Russian weapons

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Rescuers, medical staff and volunteers clean up the rubble and search for victims after a Russian attack on the country’s main children’s hospital, Okhmadit, in Kyiv, Ukraine on Monday. Photo: AP

Published: 5:47pm, 8 Jul 2024Updated: 12:32am, 9 Jul 2024

President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed retaliation on Monday after the latest Russian missile strike on Ukraine killed at least 36 people and damaged a children’s hospital in Kyiv.

Russia fired dozens of missiles at cities across Ukraine on Monday in a massive barrage, an assault condemned as a ruthless attack on civilians.

“This is one of the worst attacks. You can see: it’s a children’s hospital,” Kyiv’s mayor Vitali Klitschko said as he stood near a heavily damaged building.

Polina, 10, looks after her sister Marina, 3, at the site of Okhmatdyt children’s hospital in Kyiv, which was hit by Russian missiles on Monday. Photo: AP

Zelensky said Russia launched dozens of missiles toward five towns and cities, in the south and east of the country, as well as the capital.

Ukrainian officials said 33 people were killed and another 137 wounded in the wave of 38 missiles. Three more were killed by Russian fire in Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine.

The air force said air defence systems had downed 30 projectiles.

Dozens of volunteers, doctors and rescuers were digging through debris of a part of Okhmatdyt paediatric hospital in a desperate search for survivors after the rare daytime bombardment.