Poland deployed fighter jets to protect its airspace after Russia launched its deadliest attack this year on Ukraine.
The jets were deployed after Russian aircraft “began firing missiles again at Ukraine,” said the Polish Air Force on the social network X.
Seven people are believed to have died when missile debris fell on another hospital in the Dnipro district of Kyiv. As for the Ohmatdit Children’s Hospital in Kyiv, current information indicates that two people have died, but more details are now known.
Both deceased are adults, said Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko, one of whom is a young doctor. He added that 16 people were injured, including seven children.
Klitschko said that seven other people were killed in a business center in the Solomyan district. Speaking separately to the BBC about the attacks, Klitschko accused Russia of committing genocide against Ukrainians.
“The whole world is watching as Russian missiles and kamikaze drones kill Ukrainian citizens in our peaceful city,” said Klitschko.
These coordinated Russian missile attacks on Ukraine come just before the NATO summit in Washington. Military support for Ukraine was already at the top of the agenda, but now it will be accompanied by an even greater sense of urgency, writes the BBC.
The timing of the attack, likely ordered by President Vladimir Putin, will be seen by many as significant as NATO leaders mark the 75th anniversary of the Alliance.
These latest attacks underscore President Volodymyr Zelensky’s request, who has been invited to attend the summit, for more air defense – particularly American Patriots.
So far, Ukraine has only received a few Patriots, which were delivered by the US and European allies. Although there are signals from Washington that additional air defense assistance will come soon, it will still not be at the level that Ukraine desires.
