Children’s Hospital Hit by Russian Airstrikes in Ukraine

Russia has carried out a massive and deadly bombardment of Ukraine the day before a NATO Summit begins in Washington. At least 36 people have been killed and 140 injured, according to President Zelenskyy office. In the capital, Kyiv, the main children’s hospital has been largely destroyed. Members of the emergency services have been trying to clear the rubble by hand in a search for survivors. Well, today, five cities across the country were attacked. Russia has denied targeting civilian infrastructure, insisting the strikes had been aimed at military facilities. Let’s go tonight to our Ukraine correspondent, James Waterhouse. James.

This is an attack which stands out. It has been condemned by the United Nations and the new UK government. And Ukraine has promised to retaliate, but we don’t yet know what that could mean. But this, as I say, is going to be seared in the memory of many Ukrainians. But there’s also a hope here that some of Ukraine’s allies, NATO members, might look at what happened today and want to speed up Ukraine’s accession to the alliance, but that still remains a distant prospect. A warning that our report contains images that some of you might find distressing.

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Frantic desperation on a Kyiv summer morning. People help with their bare hands at Ukraine’s largest children’s hospital. Even for a war hardened city, this was a missile strike which broke the grueling rhythm of Russia’s invasion. Some of the young patients were being treated for cancer, already fighting for their lives. They illustrate how these attacks don’t discriminate.

[foreign language 00:01:52].

We were in the middle of surgery when the windows got shattered. The surgeon quickly covered the baby to save him. I want the world to stop this. These children are innocent.

Tatiana had a near miss.

[foreign language 00:02:06].

We got here five minutes before it all started.

Then the search for survivor stops for another missile alert. An underpass acts as a shelter this time. Residential buildings were also hit in Kyiv. Here, bodies were recovered. Other cities were also attacked. On a visit to neighboring Poland, President Zelenskyy promised a retaliation.

[foreign language 00:02:38].

Beyond any doubt, we’re going to rebuild everything that these terrorists have destroyed. And beyond any doubt, we’re going to respond to these savages from Russia. Everybody who was injured will get the necessary help and we pledge to work on bringing Russia to justice.

Ukrainians often describe daily weight on their shoulders. Sirens sound in cities like Kyiv all the time and occasionally explosions will follow and occasionally it’s a big one. Now you can see people singing as they’re giving out water. Attacks like this don’t really influence the battlefield, but what they are designed to do is terrorize and suppress the Ukrainian people.

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For a second time, rescue teams have to find cover because of another air alert. Only on this occasion, they sing the Ukrainian National Anthem underground. A dark day for a city still defiant. James Waterhouse, BBC News, Kyiv.

Well, as we said, these attacks have come on the eve of a NATO Summit, which is due to focus on the war in Ukraine. We’ll talk in a moment to our defense correspondent Jonathan Beal because he’s in Washington for that summit. First though, let’s head to our Russia editor, Steve Rosenberg. And Steve, there has been international condemnation of Russia. What reaction are you hearing? What are people saying in Moscow?

Well, the Russian military today said what it normally says, “We do not target civilians. We did target military industrial sites and air bases.” And as for the destruction in Kyiv, it blamed that on a Ukrainian air defense missile. Now, Ukrainian insists that it found remnants of a Russian cruise missile. Now, what has the Russian president been saying about these devastating attacks? Absolutely nothing in public. I mean, earlier this afternoon, Russian television showed Vladimir Putin marking what is known here as the Day of Russian Family and Love.

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And then his guest arrived, the Prime Minister of India. Now, it was Prime Minister Modi who told Vladimir Putin to his face two years ago that this was not a time for war. And I wonder what Mr. Modi would’ve been saying to Vladimir Putin tonight in the light of these attacks. But really, this is one of those days where I feel most acutely the chasm here between reality and appearance, because only on Friday, I was in the Kremlin listening to Vladimir Putin claiming to be committed to a diplomatic solution to the war in Ukraine. And three days later, dozens of Russian missiles launched at Ukraine tell a different story.

Steve, as ever, thank you. Steve Rosenberg. Let’s talk to Jonathan Beal at that NATO Summit. To what extent, Jonathan, do these dreadful attacks today change the discussion, the debate that will be had there?

Well, Ukraine was already top of the agenda for this, the 75th anniversary summit of the military alliance. No doubt about it, these attacks do give it a sense of urgency. Particularly with the arrival of President Zelenskyy, who has been appealing to NATO allies to give him more defenses. He has been given some patriot batteries, but not in the quantity he says his country needs. That’s one of the issues that will be addressed here. Jens Stoltenberg, the head of NATO, has managed to get allies to commit to spending another $40 billion, that’s 30 billion pounds, $40 billion, on Ukraine’s military support for the next year. What he hasn’t been able to do is to turn that into a five year commitment, what’s been called Trump proofing that military support. And that is because of the political uncertainties.

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He has strong support from Keir Starmer. This will be his first big test, the British Prime Minister, on the international stage. He’s made clear NATO will remain a cornerstone for Britain security and he wants to speed up military aids to Ukraine. But the question gnawing in the heads of many leaders here is, while yes, they’re expected to show unity on Ukraine, will it be the same next year? Especially if Donald Trump, a past critic of the alliance, a critic of giving weapons to Ukraine, is elected a second term. That is the elephant in the room?