UKRAINE: Russian Missile Strike On Kyiv Children’s Hospital

Dipankar Deka

Until 1991 Ukraine, was a part of the Soviet Union also known as USSR (The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics). This shared past leads many Russians, including President Vladimir Putin, to see Ukraine as an intrinsic part of Russia’s cultural and geopolitical sphere.

After the Soviet collapse, a significant Russian-speaking population remained in Ukraine, particularly in Crimea and eastern regions, fostering a sense of shared identity Russia sought to retain.

UKRAINE: Russian Missile Strike On Kyiv Children’s Hospital

One major reason for Russia’s invasion is Ukraine’s desire to join NATO, NATO’s full meaning is North Atlantic Treaty Organization, also called the North Atlantic Alliance. It is a security alliance of 30 countries in North America and Europe, formed with the signing of the Washington Treaty in 1949. NATO’s fundamental goal is to protect the freedom and security of allied nations through political and military means. Which Russia perceives as a direct threat to its national security.

NATO’s post-Cold War expansion into former Eastern Bloc countries heightens Russia’s fears of encroachment on its sphere of influence and potential military threats along its western border.

On February 25, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Today, even after more than two years, this conflict is not coming to an end. The incident of 8 July proved this. This incident has shaken the world.

On Monday, July 8^th, A devastating Russian missile attack partially destroyed a children’s hospital in Kyiv, Which name is Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital, Ukraine’s largest children’s medical center. The emergency service reported that two floors of the hospital were demolished, affecting an area of 400 square meters (4,300 sq. ft.). Intensive care units, oncology departments, and surgery units were among those damaged.

The victims and their families were forced to flee for their lives. At least 43 people were killed in the brazen daytime attacks that targeted cities across Ukraine by dawn, according to the latest figures released by authorities on Tuesday.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that thirty-six people were killed and 140 people were injured in the strikes. Viktor Liashko, Health Minister of Ukraine said. “Now we have evacuated all the children. Those who came for routine treatment have gone home, consulted with their doctors, and will decide where they will continue their treatment. The rest of the children who were on oxygen support and connected to life support devices are now in hospitals and are being provided with adequate medical care.”

According to CNN News, Witnesses recalled the terrifying moments after the attack. Ophthalmologist Lesya Lysytsia told CNN News, “You see the light, then the sound, then everything collapses, and for the next few seconds you think, ‘Are you still alive or is this the end?” Senior nurse Natalia Serdudinova described the scene as “scary”, with “windows creaking” and “everything in smoke.”

The humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, stemming from the ongoing war, is getting worse. Millions of Ukrainians have been displaced, both internally and as refugees in neighboring countries. More than 5 million people have fled Ukraine since the conflict escalated in February 2022, according to the UNHCR.

According to the data of OHCHR (The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights), verified a total of 30,457 civilian casualties during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as of February 15, 2024. Of them, 19,875 people were reported to have been injured. However, OHCHR specified that the real numbers could be higher. Cities like Mariupol, Kharkiv, and Kyiv were bombed and shelled.

Access to food, cloths, water, medical care, and electricity is severely disrupted. There is a shortage of essential commodities. Hospitals and healthcare facilities have been damaged or destroyed, complicating efforts to treat the injured and sick. The war has had a profound psychological impact on every citizens, especially children, who are exposed to violence and instability.

Denis Francis, head of the United Nations General Assembly, and former UN ambassador from Trinidad and Tobago strongly condemned the attack, calling it a “serious violation of international law and the principles of the UN Charter”.

“We do not yet know the number of children killed or injured in these attacks. My heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones,” UNICEF (The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund) Executive Director Catherine Russell said on July 8.

UNICEF is actively providing emergency water and hygiene supplies to hospitals and collaborating with local authorities and partners in Kyiv following the bombardment by Russia. Their efforts are aimed at ensuring that affected areas have access to essential resources during this critical time.

Global Solidarity calls Monday’s attacks are a tragic yet all-too-familiar reality for the Ukrainian civilians. The international community continues to condemn this act of aggression, calling for accountability and justice.

The devastating toll on civilians as revealed in the UN report underscores the need for urgent global action to support Ukraine and hold Russia accountable for its actions. The resilience and courage of the Ukrainian people in the face of such adversity highlights the urgent need for global solidarity.

The daytime bombing of a children’s hospital in Kyiv serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, demanding intense efforts from the international community to support Ukraine and ensure those responsible for the atrocities are held accountable.

16-07-2024

Dipankar Deka is a student of Communication & Journalism, Gauhati University

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