On the 9th, Ukrainian President Zelensky stated that as of 10 a.m. that morning, the Russian military’s missile attacks on multiple locations in Ukraine on the 8th had resulted in 38 deaths, including 4 children, and 190 injuries. According to the Ukrainian National News Agency on the 9th, rescue operations are still ongoing, and all patients at the attacked Okhmatdyt National Children’s Hospital in Kyiv have been transferred to other medical institutions. Additionally, according to the Ukrainian Interfax News Agency, this may be the deadliest attack on Ukrainian civilians since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
According to the latest reports, Zelensky stated on the 8th that the Russian military had launched over 40 missiles of various types at five cities, including Kyiv, damaging several residential buildings and public infrastructure, and destroying a children’s hospital. He declared that Ukraine would retaliate against Russia and called on the West to provide a “stronger response” to Russia. Kyiv Mayor Klitschko announced the 9th as the “Day of Mourning” in the capital, prohibiting any entertainment activities within the city.
Evidence and Accusations
On the 9th, the Ukrainian Security Service announced that new evidence collected by the agency again indicated that the Russian military used Kh-101 cruise missiles to attack the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital, with substantial debris and components of this missile model found at the scene. The claim by Russia that the damage to the hospital was caused by Ukrainian NASAMS air defense system missiles was termed “utterly absurd.”
The Ukrainian news website “strana.ua” stated that the large-scale missile attack by Russia on Ukraine, just before the NATO summit, was a demonstration showing Russia’s confidence in its combat and military capabilities, unafraid of any “retaliation” or escalation from Ukraine and NATO. Russia aims to make Ukraine and the West understand that it is better to agree to Russia’s conditions for ending the conflict quickly, or else the situation in Ukraine will worsen.
In response to Ukraine’s accusations, the Russian Ministry of Defense issued a statement on the 8th, claiming that the Ukrainian authorities’ allegations of Russian missile attacks on civilian facilities are completely unfounded. Numerous photos and video clips from the Ukrainian side show that the damage in Kyiv was caused by missiles fired by the city’s air defense systems. Similar accusations by Ukraine against Russia are not new and almost always precede NATO-related meetings. Such provocations by Ukraine aim to secure more financial aid and ensure the continuation of the conflict. The statement mentioned that on the morning of the 8th, the Russian military used long-range precision weapons to carry out cluster strikes on Ukrainian military-industrial facilities and air force bases, targeting Ukraine’s attempts to damage Russian energy and economic infrastructure.
International Reactions and Russian Responses
This attack also drew attention from Western countries. According to the Associated Press, US President Biden issued a statement on the 8th local time, stating that the Russian missile attack on Ukraine reminded people of Russia’s “brutal actions,” adding, “We cannot ignore Russia’s aggression.” The US, along with its allies, will announce new measures to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses at the NATO summit to help protect Ukrainian cities and civilians from Russian attacks. He plans to meet with Zelensky during the NATO summit to reaffirm the unwavering US support for Ukraine.
The BBC reported on the 9th that Russia’s attack on Ukraine was unanimously condemned by the US and other Western countries. The new British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, also criticized the attack, calling it “the most despicable act.” As one of Ukraine’s main Western allies, Starmer stated that the UK “will continue to support Ukraine.”
On the 9th, Russia again refuted allegations of attacking civilian facilities. According to RIA Novosti, Kremlin spokesperson Peskov reiterated that Russia does not target civilian facilities in Ukraine; instead, the targets are significant infrastructure and military objectives related to the Ukrainian military. The incident should be interpreted according to the statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense, and Russia has never attacked Ukrainian civilian facilities.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zakharova stated on the same day that the Ukrainian authorities’ use of the tragedy at the Kyiv children’s hospital for propaganda purposes once again proved their inhumane nature. As has happened many times before, Ukrainian air defense system missiles went off course, hitting residential buildings and other civilian facilities. Numerous eyewitnesses confirmed that a missile from the Western NASAMS surface-to-air missile system hit the Kyiv children’s hospital building. Ukrainian authorities deliberately place air defense systems in residential areas, using civilians as “human shields,” and have long used civilian facilities for military purposes, which seriously violates international humanitarian law.
On the 9th, Russian Ambassador to the US Antonov stated that it is not the first time that Ukrainian authorities have blamed their crimes on Russia. The shells that hit Ukrainian civilian infrastructure were from Ukrainian air defense systems, a fact that the US has avoided mentioning. The hysteria from the US in condemning Russia over the Kyiv children’s hospital incident is an example of its fervent anti-Russia propaganda. The US should immediately stop providing weapons to Ukraine.
The Russian newspaper “Komsomolskaya Pravda” stated that the US and other Western countries have once again “prejudged” the situation in this incident, carelessly blaming Russia regardless of the facts. Ukrainian authorities clearly attempted to use this self-created tragedy on the eve of the NATO summit to influence international public opinion and secure stronger support from the West.
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