Russian missile attack devastates Kyiv children's clinic

The photo of a rescuer crying in helplessness, showcasing the scale of suffering and impotence against the brutality of the Russians, has spread across the internet. On 7 July 2024, in a massive rocket attack, the country's largest children's clinic, Ohmatdyt, was hit.

On 7 July 2024, Kyiv became the target of a massive rocket attack carried out by Russia. The target was the country's largest children's clinic, Ohmatdyt, where children with cancer are fighting for their lives.

A Russian rocket hit the hospital building. It housed 620 beds, where up to 18,000 children were hospitalised annually. The Russian attack seriously damaged part of the hospital complex, including the operating wing. Two staff members were killed, and 16, including 17 children, were injured. Patients had to be evacuated.

During the bombing, doctors were conducting three surgeries. As screams and cries of children could be heard from beneath the rubble, both hospital staff and regular people rushed to help.

Rescuers also arrived at the scene, using specialised equipment to clear the debris. One of them was captured in a photo. The brutal attack by the Russians and the death of young, innocent victims shook him to the point of tears.

The moment the Russian rocket hit the hospital building was caught on camera, and the footage appeared on the internet. In the videos, a flying rocket can be seen, and moments later, a powerful explosion is heard, followed by a cloud of smoke and debris. Ukrainian influencer Ihor Lachenkov published one of these videos, emphasising that air defence did not hit the rocket and flew straight to its target, the Ohmatdyt hospital.

The attack caused a wave of outrage. The head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko, stated: "This morning showed once again that Russia is a country of terrorists and degenerates. Dozens of rockets were fired at cities during rush hour. An attack on the largest children's hospital in the country."