Director of rocket-hit children’s hospital in Ukraine recalls “real hell”

The director of Ukraine’s largest children’s hospital, which was hit by a deadly missile attack blamed on Russia on Monday, said the attack was “real hell”.

“Children and adults were screaming in fear and hurting in pain” at Kyiv’s Ohmadyt Hospital, Volodymyr Zhovnir told the UN Security Council on Tuesday.

He said there were more than 1,200 patients and staff in the hospital at the time and three heart surgeries were performed. Two adults were killed and more than 300 people were injured, including children, he added.

On Tuesday, Ukraine released photos of allegedly recovered fragments of a Russian cruise missile that hit the hospital in the capital.

Russia claimed the explosion was caused by a misfired Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile, but the UN said it was very likely that Moscow was behind the attack – a conclusion shared by analysts speaking to BBC Verify.

The attack was condemned worldwide. US President Joe Biden said it was a “horrific reminder of Russia’s brutality”.

Mr Biden, who is hosting a NATO summit in Washington on Tuesday, also promised to strengthen Kiev’s air defenses.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is attending the summit, said: “We are fighting for more air defense systems for Ukraine… We are fighting for more aircraft.”

A wave of Russian missile and drone attacks killed at least 46 people across Ukraine on Monday, including 33 in Kyiv, local authorities said.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko declared July 9 a day of mourning in the city.

Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.