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Deadly Russian Missile Barrage Rains on Ukrainian Cities

Monday 08 July 2024 - 12:50

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In a devastating display of force, Russia launched a massive missile attack across multiple Ukrainian cities on Sunday, leaving at least 23 people dead and inflicting catastrophic damage on civilian infrastructure, including a children's hospital in the capital, Kyiv. The indiscriminate strikes drew swift condemnation from Ukrainian officials and underscored the ongoing brutality of the conflict that has gripped the nation for over a year.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, currently visiting Poland to sign a security pact, reported that Russia fired approximately 40 missiles at targets across the country. "Different cities: Kyiv, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Sloviansk, Kramatorsk. More than 40 missiles of various types. Residential buildings, infrastructure, and a children's hospital were damaged," Zelensky stated, his voice etched with anguish.

In Kyiv, plumes of smoke billowed across the skyline as at least nine people lost their lives in a rare daytime attack. The city's mayor, Vitaliy Klitschko, described the bombardment as "one of the worst attacks" on the capital since the war began, with fatalities reported at the Okhmadyt children's hospital. Heartbreaking scenes unfolded as young patients, some still attached to IV drips, were evacuated from the damaged facility.

Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the military administration in Kryvyi Rih, Zelensky's hometown, reported at least 10 fatalities and 31 injuries, with 10 of the wounded in critical condition. The city has been repeatedly targeted by Russian forces since the full-scale invasion commenced in February 2022.

The eastern town of Pokrovsk also bore the brunt of the attack, with three lives lost, while Dnipro mourned the death of one civilian, and six others were injured when a high-rise building and a business were struck.

The devastating barrage coincided with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's arrival in Moscow for a two-day state visit, during which he is scheduled to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin. Moscow has yet to comment on the attacks, although it has consistently maintained that its military does not target civilian infrastructure.

The United Nations' human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine has raised concerns about the mounting civilian casualties in recent months, as Russia has intensified its air campaign. A recent report highlighted May as the deadliest month for civilian deaths in almost a year, underscoring the urgency of Zelensky's appeals to Western allies for additional air defense systems.

As the smoke clears and the rubble is sifted through, the human cost of this latest Russian assault on Ukrainian cities becomes increasingly apparent. The indiscriminate nature of the strikes, targeting even a children's hospital, serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing brutality and disregard for civilian lives that have characterized this conflict. The international community's condemnation and calls for accountability will echo louder than ever, as the quest for lasting peace remains elusive.