Russia launched an unprecedented missile strike on Ukraine on Monday, July 8, killing at least 20 people nationwide and striking a children's hospital in Kyiv.
The brutal assault, which included advanced Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, marked the heaviest bombardment of the Ukrainian capital in nearly four months, Knewz.com has learned.
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, more than 40 missiles of various types targeted five Ukrainian cities—Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Slovyansk, Kramatorsk, and Kryvyi Rih.
The central city of Kryvyi Rih bore the brunt, losing at least 10 of its residents in the massive missile strike.
In the city of Kryvyi Rih, which witnessed some of the deadliest impacts, 31 people were injured in addition to the fatalities. The head of city administration, Oleksandr Vilkul, described the attack as "massive," revealing the appalling scale of damage inflicted by the Russian military.
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko shared the latest update on nationwide casualties on Telegram, mentioning that 28 people have been found dead and 112 people have been recorded injured so far.
"Emergency rescue operations at the sites of the biggest [explosions] continue. There are rescuers, police, and communal services. Separate gratitude to all the caring people who rushed to the rescue. Unity makes us stronger," Klymenko wrote in his report.
Explosions also occurred in Ukraine’s central Dnipropetrovsk region, creating panic and chaos among the local populace. Per Interior Minister Klymenko's report, 11 people have died while 62 have been found injured in this region alone.
One of the most heartbreaking scenes unfolded at the Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital in Kyiv. A partially collapsed two-story wing of the facility left rescuers in a desperate search for survivors under the rubble.
Windows and doors of the 10-story main building of the hospital blew out and the walls were blackened as a result of the missile strike. Blood was found spattered on the floor in one of the rooms.
Medical personnel and local residents are working together to remove the rubble and search for children and staff who might be trapped underneath.
Smoke billowed from the building while volunteers, emergency crews, and locals formed a human chain, passing stones and debris to each other in a frantic effort to reach potential survivors, it has been reported by The Associated Press.
Zelenskyy shared the grim news on Telegram, saying the exact number of casualties was still unknown. “It is very important that the world should not be silent about it now and that everyone should see what Russia is and what it is doing,” the Ukrainian President stated.
The missile barrage included Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, one of Russia's most advanced weapons, known for its speed and difficulty to intercept. The Kinzhal flies at ten times the speed of sound, making it almost impossible for defense systems to react.
The capital city was left shaking from the blasts. Entire sections of residential buildings were destroyed, with one district in Kyiv losing a multi-story section to the bombardment. The Kyiv city administration reported fires in multiple areas due to falling debris from intercepted missiles.
The Monday morning assault took place at a time when many Kyiv residents were out in the streets, intensifying the tragedy. Andrii Yermak, head of Ukraine’s presidential office, confirmed the attack's timing magnified its devastating human toll.
Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko revealed that official assessments of the attack’s full impact were still being conducted.
The timing of the attack is notably significant, occurring on the eve of a three-day NATO summit in Washington. The summit is set to discuss strategies for reassuring Ukraine of the alliance’s unwavering support amid Europe’s largest conflict since World War II.
It is also worth noting that the missile attack came a day after Ukraine carried out a drone strike on Russia’s southwestern Voronezh region, setting fire to an ammunition warehouse and prompting a state of emergency in the region.
Aleksandr Gusev, the regional Governor of Voronezh, shared a statement about the attack on Sunday, July 7, mentioning that around 50 people from the Podgorensky district – where the drone attack took place – have been moved to transported to temporary accommodation centers, where they are being given "all the necessary assistance."
"Several UAVs were detected and destroyed by on-duty air defense forces over the territory of the Voronezh region last night. A fire broke out at a warehouse due to the fall of their wreckage. Detonation of explosive items began in the Podgorensky district," Gusev said in the statement, via CNN.
"Operational services, military, and officials are working on the site to eliminate the emergency."
