kyiv under bombardment. A new explosion was heard on Monday, July 8, by AFP journalists in the Ukrainian capital. It sounded just a few hours after several Russian strikes that left at least nine dead in Kiev. Around the Okhmadyt children’s hospital, hit in the first strike, residents ran to take refuge in air raid shelters, an AFP journalist on the scene noted.
In response, France condemned “firmly” massive Russian missile strikes. “These barbaric acts, directly and deliberately targeting a children’s hospital, must be added to the list of war crimes for which Russia will have to be held accountable.”writes the Quai d’Orsay. Follow our live coverage.
A massive attack from Russia. The death toll from the Russian strikes on kyiv on Monday has risen to 10 dead and 35 wounded, the Ukrainian capital’s military administration announced on Telegram. In total, more than 40 missiles were fired, causing at least 24 deaths and dozens of injuries. “Russian terrorists have again heavily attacked Ukraine with missiles. Different cities: kyiv, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rig, Sloviansk, Kramatorsk. More than 40 missiles of different types. Residential buildings, infrastructure and a children’s hospital were damaged.”Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reacted on Telegram.
Targeted hospitals. “One of the most important children’s hospitals in Europe” was damaged in the capital, “There are people under the rubble and the exact number of victims is currently unknown.”Zelensky lashed out on X, posting a video of the damaged building. Then four people died in a Russian strike on a second hospital in kyiv.
Electrical installations affected. Russian strikes hit electrical installations in kyiv. “Three DTEK transformer substations were destroyed or damaged in the Golosiivskyi and Shevchenkivskyi districts” of the Ukrainian capital, private operator DTEK said on Telegram, adding that power lines had also been damaged. The Russian military regularly targets infrastructure such as energy facilities and factories and kills civilians in a strategy aimed at undermining Ukrainian morale.
Strikes before NATO summit. The attacks come on the eve of a NATO meeting in the United States, where the alliance’s support for Kiev will be discussed in detail, as well as the uncertainties surrounding the upcoming US elections and Donald Trump’s possible victory. Zelensky arrived in Warsaw on Monday before heading to the summit in Washington.