Russians deny the charge.
[Korrespondent] The White House believes that the Russian strike on Okhmatdet is a crime by Russian troops that deserves a separate investigation.
The Russians have committed another war crime. Perhaps one of the bloodiest during the entire full-scale invasion. As a result of the Russian strike on Ukrainian territory on July 8, 33 people were killed and 140 were wounded. In particular, the strike hit the country's largest children's hospital, Okhmatdet. How did the world react to the Russian crime?
THE US WANTS AN INVESTIGATION
The White House condemned the massive Russian missile attack on Ukraine, in particular on Okhmatdet.
"Today's horrific attack on Ukraine, including on a children's hospital, demonstrates the terrible price that Russian aggression is paying, and that leader Vladimir Putin is willing to pay in his war," Michael Carpenter, director of European affairs at the US National Security Council, said at a briefing.
"The attack on the maternity hospital, as well as on the children's hospital, is unfortunately not the first time that this has happened during the war," he added.
According to him, the United States will continue to make efforts to support Ukraine's ability to resist Russian invasion.
Carpenter also expects that steps to strengthen Ukrainian air defenses to prevent attacks like today will be announced at this week's NATO summit. "If Putin thinks he can wait out the West, he's wrong," the official said.
"The attack on the maternity hospital, as well as the children's hospital, is unfortunately not something that has happened for the first time during the war," Carpenter added, once again emphasizing that further action is needed after this crime by the Russians. "I expect that this attack is one that will require a deeper study, an investigation," he said.
THE CZECH REPUBLIC REMEMBERS USEFUL IDIOTS
Against the backdrop of the Russian attack on Okhmatdet, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky criticized the "useful idiots" who "dream" of peace with Russia.
"While useful idiots dream of peace with Putin, he sends missiles to a children's hospital," Lipavsky wrote.
He noted that he is now traveling to Washington for the NATO summit, where he will promote a long-term strategy for containing Russia.
PROTEST IN PRAGUE
Several dozen people held a protest on Monday, July 8, in Prague against the morning bombing of the Okhmatdet children's hospital in Kyiv.
The protesters stood with a large banner reading in English "There can be no peace without Russia's defeat" and Ukrainian flags. Nearby, they placed children's toys and clothes smeared with red paint, symbolizing the victims of the shelling.
The demonstrators observed a minute of silence for the dead and injured, sang Ukrainian songs, chanted "Glory to Ukraine," and called on NATO, whose leaders are gathering in Washington, to take decisive action.
WHAT THEY SAY IN BRITAIN
"An attack on innocent children. The most horrific thing that can happen. We stand with Ukraine against Russian aggression - our support will not wane," said the new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The attack was also condemned by EU High Representative Josep Borrell: "Russia continues to ruthlessly target Ukrainian citizens. Dozens were killed and wounded in today's attacks, and Kyiv's largest children's hospital was destroyed. Ukraine needs air defense systems. All those responsible for Russian war crimes must be held accountable."
Kyiv has initiated the convening of the UN Security Council, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said. Russia will chair the Security Council for a month from July 1.
It is noteworthy that the massive missile attack on Ukrainian cities took place right before the start of the NATO anniversary summit. One of its topics is military support for Ukraine, which has been asking Western countries for a sufficient number of air defense systems since the very beginning of the Russian invasion.
THE MEANING OF OKHMATDET
"Okhmatdet is the main children's hospital in Ukraine. One of the most important exclusively children's hospitals not only in Ukraine, but also in Europe. Okhmatdet has saved and restored health to thousands of children," is how Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described it.
Every year, Okhmatdet treats up to 20 thousand children, including those with rare and severe diseases. The hospital performs up to 10 thousand operations every year; it is the only center in the country that saves premature newborns weighing 500 grams. In addition, the hospital's Children's Hematology Center is the country's leading institution for leukemia diagnostics and bone marrow transplants.
Okhmatdet is not only the largest, but also one of the oldest hospitals in the country. This year it celebrated its 130th anniversary. From the very beginning of the Russian invasion, Okhmatdet doctors treated children who were injured as a result of the fighting.
REACTION OF UKRAINIANS
In less than three hours, Ukrainians were able to raise more than 100 million hryvnias for the restoration of Okhmatdet. As of 21:01, the bank already has 110 million hryvnias.