Russia Launches Deadly Daylight Missile Strikes on Ukrainian Cities, Killing 41 Civilians.

Russia unleashed a barrage of missiles across Ukrainian cities in broad daylight on Monday morning, resulting in the deaths of at least 41 civilians and causing severe damage to Kyiv’s main children’s hospital, officials reported. This marks one of the deadliest air strikes in recent months.

Hundreds of people rushed to clear debris at the hospital, where windows were shattered, and panels ripped off. Parents holding babies walked dazed and sobbing in the streets after the rare daylight aerial attack.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated that Russia fired more than 40 missiles, targeting residential and commercial buildings and infrastructure in Kyiv, his hometown of Kryvyi Rih, the central city of Dnipro, and two eastern cities.

In Kyiv, ten people were killed and 35 wounded in the initial wave of attacks, according to authorities. Two hours later, debris from another missile attack struck a different hospital in Kyiv, killing four more and injuring three, the emergency services reported.

In Kryvyi Rih, eleven people were confirmed dead, and over 40 wounded, the emergency services said. The eastern town of Pokrovsk saw three fatalities after missiles hit an industrial facility, according to the regional governor. One person was also killed in the city of Dnipro, officials said.

The Russian Defence Ministry claimed its forces targeted defense industry sites and aviation bases in Ukraine. Moscow has repeatedly denied targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, despite its attacks having killed thousands of civilians since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

This latest attack comes a day before NATO leaders are set to begin a three-day summit, with President Zelenskiy expected to attend and the war in Ukraine being a major focus.