A children’s hospital in Kyiv has been hit by missiles as Russia unleashed a deadly barrage across Ukraine.
The attack is the biggest bombardment of the Ukrainian capital for several months, officials said.
It was part of a wider strike across Ukraine that has left at least 20 dead and around 50 others injured, according to the interior ministry.
In Kyiv, at least nine people have been killed, and 33 others injured, as the attack struck the Okhmatdyt children’s hospital – Ukraine’s biggest children’s medical facility.
Rescuers work at Okhmatdyt children’s hospital. Pic: Reuters
Smoke rises over the Kyiv skyline after a Russian attack. Pic: AP
The mayor of the Ukrainian capital, Vitali Klitschko, confirmed that the hospital had been hit but did not say whether there were any casualties.
He added that patients were being evacuated to a nearby hospital, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that there were people “under the rubble”.
Rescuers are working at the scene, searching for survivors under a partially collapsed wing of the facility.
The daylight attacks included Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, one of the most advanced Russian weapons, the Ukrainian air force said.
The Kinzhal flies at ten times the speed of sound, making it hard to intercept.
City buildings shook from the blasts and Mr Zelenskyy said Russia had targeted five cities in total, with more than 40 missiles of different types.
Rescuers work at a site of a building damaged during Russian missile strikes across Ukraine. Pic: Reuters
Kyiv, Dnipro, Pokrovsk and Kryvyi Rih are among the cities targeted in the Russia attack
In a post on social media, Mr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak accused Russia of “deliberately targeting” children.
At least ten people have been killed and 31 injured in the city of Kryvyi Rih, in the Dnipro region.
Serhii Lysak, governor of the region, said that one person has died and six otheres were also injured in Dnipro city after it was struck in Russia’s major attack.
One of the injured people is in a “serious condition” he added.
Meanwhile, Vadym Filashkin governor of the eastern Donetsk region, said at least three people had been killed in the city of Pokrovsk.
Russia sends a message on eve of NATO summit
Russia’s strike comes on the eve of a major NATO summit in Washington, says Sky News’ security and defence editor Deborah Haynes.
She says it’s been suggested that the timing of the attack by Vladimir Putin’s forces is “no coincidence”.
The summit is due to take place in the US and will involve the leaders of all 32 NATO states – including new UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
It is expected to have a heavy focus on Ukraine.
“The war in Ukraine will be foremost in their talks with the allies,” Haynes said.
“They’ll be pledging, of course, more support for Ukrainian forces. Ukraine will be wanting more signs about whether it will be able to join NATO,” Haynes added.
She continued: “But clearly for Russia, the war in Ukraine is still carrying on. They have not changed their target, their intent to try to capture Ukraine.”
Haynes said Moscow has “sent a message” ahead of the summit that its forces can still “strike and cause horrendous damage”.
“You’re talking about a children’s hospital that’s been hit as part of this barrage. We’ve yet to understand whether children themselves have been injured, but horrendously terrifying.”
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