Ukraine today hit back with strikes on Russian oil facilities after Monday’s “genocidal” attack on a children’s hospital in Kyiv by Vladimir Putin’s forces.
The death toll from the brutal Kremlin missile attacks has risen to 41 – including four children – with nearly 200 wounded.
And, as the number of fatalities continued to climb from the strikes, which also destroyed a world-renowned fertility unit in the Ukrainian capital, authorities in Kyiv declared a national day of mourning.
But President Volodymr Zelensky also ordered his military to hit back.
And Ukrainian forces immediately responded to Monday’s deadly attack with repeated kamikaze drone strikes on several Russian regions, targeting energy plants.
There was a coordinated attack of at least five drones on an oil facility in Kalach-on-Don in the Volgograd region, where some 10 loud explosions were heard by residents at around 4am.
In footage later released, drones were seen hitting the oil depot which then exploded in flames.
As a result of the Ukrainian assaults, flights were suspended at Volgograd and Astrakhan airports. Elsewhere, an electricity station was also hit in Frolovo.
And a 2am strike on an electricity station in Rodionovo-Nesvetaysky, Rostov region also triggered a fire. Missile and drone strikes also hit the Belgorod border region, where four people were killed and 20 wounded in the past day, according to reports.
Some 160 high-rise buildings, 100 private houses and 140 cars were damaged. But the fallout from Monday’s savage onslaught by Russian forces continued.
As he prepared to fly to the United States for a Nato summit, a clearly incensed Mr Zelensky vowed that Moscow must now be held accountable for such acts of terror.
“The rescue operation after yesterday’s Russian missile attack continues,” the Ukrainian President said.
“As of now, 41 people have been reported dead, including four children.
“My condolences to all the families and friends affected by this tragedy. 190 people were injured and are receiving assistance.
“There are 64 people hospitalized in Kyiv, 28 in Kryvyi Rih, and 6 in Dnipro. All patients from Okhmatdyt have been transferred to other medical institutions.
“In some areas where the missiles hit, rescue operations continued throughout the night, involving almost 400 rescuers.”
And he added: “I am grateful to everyone who is rescuing and caring for our people, to everyone involved, and to everyone who is helping. We continue our work to increase the protection of our cities and communities from Russian terror. There will be decisions.
“The world has the necessary strength for this. I also thank all the leaders who supported us and are preparing new joint steps to protect lives from Russian terror.”
US President Joe Biden also hit out at the ‘Russian brutality’. Mr Biden spoke as he prepared to host a Nato summit in Washington.
The US president said further boosts to Ukraine’s air defences would be announced at the meeting. Leaders from the 32 Nato members states, their partner countries and the EU are gathering to mark the 75th anniversary of the bloc.
Mr Biden said he will be welcoming Ukraine’s leader and other Nato chiefs.
The summit will focus on defence and deterrence in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“We will be announcing new measures to strengthen Ukraine’s air defences to help protect their cities and civilians from Russian strikes,” Mr Biden said.
“I will be meeting with President Zelenskyy to make clear our support for Ukraine is unshakeable.”
Kyiv declared a day of mourning yesterday after one of the most savage hypersonic air attacks of the war – and the deadliest in the past four months.
Ukraine branded the hits as “genocidal”.
Russia denied deliberately targeting the children’s hospital, which treats cancer patients and is famous throughout eastern Europe.
But a UN security council meeting was demanded by Britain, France, Ecuador, Slovenia and the United States.
“We will call out Russia’s cowardly and depraved attack on the hospital,” said Britain’s ambassador to the UN, Barbara Woodward.
Among those killed at the hospital was kidney doctor Svitlana Lukyanchik, 30.
She was an orphan from Lviv who became a leading doctor after graduating from Ukraine’s National Medical University.
She wanted to “help the most defenceless – kids”, said journalist Yigal Levin.
The body of a boy was found by the emergency services during the night clearing of rubble in Kyiv’s Shevchenkiv district.
A total of 27 people died in Kyiv, including four children.The president of the UN General Assembly, Dennis Francis, said of the Russian hospital strike: “This unconscionable attack on civilians, especially children, is a grave violation of international law and the principles of the UN Charter. All civilians must be protected.”
President Zelensky has been urging Western allies to step up deliveries of air defences for months, amid increased Russian attacks. UN officials said May was the deadliest month for civilian casualties in almost a year.
The government in Kyiv says it desperately needs new US-made Patriot air defence systems.
But Western officials have been reluctant to surrender any more of the limited number of surface-to-air batteries scattered across the Nato alliance.
