Russian daylight missile assault kills 36 across Ukraine
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The news: Russia launched multiple deadly missile strikes across Ukrainian cities in broad daylight on Monday morning, killing at least 36 civilians and damaging critical infrastructure, including Kyiv's main children's hospital.
The numbers: Ukrainian air defences intercepted 30 of the 38 missiles, yet significant damage occurred in Kyiv, Kryvyi Rih, Dnipro and other cities, Reuters reported.
Kyiv's emergency services reported 21 fatalities and 65 injuries from the main missile volley and another strike two hours later, the news agency said. In Kryvyi Rih, 11 deaths and 47 injuries were confirmed, while in Pokrovsk, the regional governor reported three fatalities after missiles struck an industrial site. One person also died in Dnipro, officials said.
The context: The rare daylight attack left parents holding babies, dazed and sobbing outside the hospital. It came a day before a three-day NATO summit, where leaders were expected to make a one-year €40 billion ($64.27 billion) pledge of support for Ukraine, according to the Financial Times.
What they said: President Volodymyr Zelenskiy vowed retaliation and urged Western allies for a strong response. "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?" Zelenskiy, who is visiting Poland said in a news conference.
Moscow's Defence Ministry claimed it targeted military infrastructure. Russia has repeatedly denied targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, despite attacks since its invasion started in February 2022 that have killed thousands of civilians.
The source: Reuters
