What happened
Russia struck cities across Ukraine on Monday in a daytime barrage of rockets that killed at least 41 civilians and destroyed part of the country's largest children's hospital in Kyiv. World leaders condemned the attack, as NATO leaders gather in Washington today to celebrate the alliance's 75th birthday. Ukraine declared Tuesday a day of mourning.
Who said what
Ukraine's military said it shot down 30 of 38 missiles during the attack, but Russia is getting more adept at evading air defenses. The Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital was struck by a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile, according to Ukraine's Security Service. The attack "caused debris to fall into heart patients' open chests in the middle of surgery," The Associated Press said. "Cancer patients had their beds wheeled into parks and onto the streets."
"Among the victims were Ukraine's sickest children," said Volker Türk, the U.N. human rights commissioner. "This is abominable." British Prime Minister Kier Starmer said "attacking innocent children" was "depraved." President Joe Biden called the strikes a "horrific reminder of Russia's brutality."
Russia claimed it struck only military targets. Ukraine's Health Ministry said Russia has damaged more than 1,600 medical facilities and destroyed 214 since invading in February 2022. Attacking hospitals with no military value is a war crime.
What next?
The White House said NATO leaders will announce new measures to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses during their summit. The U.N. Security Council is also holding an emergency meeting on Tuesday at the request of France and Ecuador.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
September 18 editorial cartoonsCartoons Thursday's political cartoons include a man who would be king, an inconsistent court, and social media in the trash
-
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues – laughs are sadly ‘thin on the ground’Talking Point Disappointing sequel to the classic rock’n’roll spoof
-
What the 2025 Autumn Budget could mean for your walletChancellor Rachel Reeves will reveal her latest plan to balance the nation’s finances in November
-
Russian drone tests Romania as Trump spinsSpeed Read Trump is ‘resisting congressional plans to impose newer and tougher penalties on Russia’s energy sector’
-
Kim Jong Un’s triumph: the rise and rise of North Korea’s dictatorIn the Spotlight North Korean leader has strengthened ties with Russia and China, and recently revealed his ‘respected child’ to the world
-
‘Peak consumption has become the Holy Grail of the energy debate’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
House posts lewd Epstein note attributed to TrumpSpeed Read The estate of Jeffrey Epstein turned over the infamous 2003 birthday note from President Donald Trump
-
Supreme Court allows 'roving' race-tied ICE raidsSpeed Read The court paused a federal judge's order barring agents from detaining suspected undocumented immigrants in LA based on race
-
Burkina Faso's misinformation warUnder The Radar The president of the West African country has quickly become the face of a viral, AI-powered propaganda campaign
-
South Korea to fetch workers detained in Georgia raidSpeed Read More than 300 South Korean workers detained in an immigration raid at a Hyundai plant will be released
-
DC sues Trump to end Guard 'occupation'Speed Read D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb argues that the unsolicited military presence violates the law
