Russian war of aggression: Kiev hopes for help after attack – pressure in the Security Council

Ukraine is hoping for more international support after the most serious Russian airstrike on Kiev this year. “We continue to work to protect our cities and communities from Russian terror,” wrote President Volodymyr Zelensky on the social network X. He thanked all foreign politicians who prepared new steps to protect Ukraine after the devastating attack on a children’s hospital in Kiev, among other things. Kiev’s support is also a topic at the three-day NATO summit in Washington, which Zelensky arrived at on Tuesday (local time).

At an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in New York on the attacks, Moscow received criticism from the West and a signal from China: Unfortunately, the fighting has not calmed down recently, “but rather intensified and there have been brutal attacks from time to time that have claimed many victims. China is deeply concerned about this,” said the deputy ambassador, Geng Shuang. However, Beijing was typically cautious in its comments and did not directly pillory its partner Moscow.

Sharp criticism in New York

The USA, on the other hand, did not hold back in its strong condemnation of the attacks, which left dozens dead. It was “cruel” that Russia bombed a children’s hospital. British Ambassador Barbara Woodward added that Moscow’s behavior was “a disgrace for the Security Council.” France’s representative Nicolas de Rivière spoke of “another entry and a list of war crimes” for which Russia must be held accountable.

The Russian UN ambassador Vasily Nebenzia repeated the Kremlin’s version that the Russian attack was aimed at a factory near the hospital. A stray Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile subsequently hit the clinic. However, the UN Human Rights Office had stated in a preliminary assessment that the building was hit directly by a Russian Kh-101 (Ch-101) missile.

UN: Attacks on hospitals are war crimes

The United Nations, meanwhile, has described the airstrike as a war crime. “I would like to remind this Council that hospitals enjoy special protection under international humanitarian law. Deliberate attacks on a protected hospital are a war crime and the perpetrators must be held accountable,” said Joyce Msuya, the acting head of the UN emergency relief office Ocha. Because Russia has veto power in the UN Security Council, the most powerful UN body is unable to take action against Moscow’s aggression.

The number of deaths in the Ukrainian capital from Monday morning’s attack rose to 31 according to the latest count. There were also 117 injured. Kiev was last hit similarly hard, with at least 32 deaths, shortly before the turn of the year. Nationwide, Ukraine suffered at least 42 deaths and 190 injuries as a result of the latest wave of attacks.

A day of mourning was scheduled for Tuesday in Kiev. Rescue work at the large children’s hospital Ochmatdyt (Protection of Mother and Child), whose facade was completely destroyed, was stopped after more than 24 hours. Hundreds of rescuers, doctors and volunteers had searched for victims in the rubble until they were exhausted. On Monday, rescued children with cancer sat on their mothers’ laps on the street with infusion devices. Two adults were killed in the clinic, including a doctor.

Moscow contradicts version of a hit

Ukraine assumes that it was a targeted attack. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, however, asserted: “We are not carrying out strikes against civilian targets. Strikes are only carried out against objects of critical infrastructure or military targets,” he said, according to the Tass agency.

On Monday, Russia fired nearly 40 rockets and cruise missiles at Kiev, Kryvyi Rih, Dnipro and other cities. All 600 children who were being treated at the clinic were transferred to other health facilities. The hospital, where many children with cancer and other serious illnesses were treated, was badly damaged and could no longer be used without significant repairs.

In a destroyed residential building near the Kiev clinic, seven people were killed in the air raid, including three children. A boy was found dead there during the night. Two people died in an unspecified industrial facility. Unofficial reports suggest that attacks were on a defense company. Nine people were killed in another partially destroyed hospital, and seven people in a business center.

Ukraine sends swarms of combat drones to Russia

Ukraine responded to the heavy Russian missile fire with increased drone attacks. Whole swarms of drones reached areas in Russia. A tank depot belonging to the oil company Lukoil in the Volgograd region was set on fire. Regional governor Andrei Bocharov blamed the debris of shot-down drones. These fell on the depot in the town of Kalach-on-Don.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced that 38 Ukrainian combat drones were intercepted over the Belgorod, Kursk, Voronezh, Rostov and Astrakhan regions on Tuesday night. Aircraft were temporarily unable to take off or land at the commercial airports in Volgograd and Astrakhan.

Ukraine has been defending itself against a Russian invasion for two years. Because it lacks heavy long-range weapons, it is trying to make up for this deficiency with targeted drone attacks. However, the damage caused is disproportionate to the devastating consequences of Russian bombings on Ukraine.

Scholz promises support to Ukraine

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) once again promised Ukraine long-term support against the Russian war of aggression. “And it is good that we have reinforced this again in recent days with a very clear message: We will support Ukraine for as long as it is necessary,” said Scholz in Berlin before leaving for the NATO summit. He referred to arms deliveries and the joint initiative of the most important industrialized countries. At their summit in Italy, the G7 countries agreed to finance a loan package worth around 50 billion US dollars (around 47 billion euros) with the help of interest from frozen Russian state assets.