Russia faced criticism at the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday for carrying out “systematic attacks” on Ukrainian medical facilities, as a series of deadly assaults continue across the country.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said 38 people were killed in Ukraine – including four children – and 190 were injured, with medical facilities destroyed, in a strike by about 40 missiles targeting several cities and towns on Monday.
“Deliberately attacking a protected hospital is a war crime and the perpetrators must be held accountable,” Acting Undersecretary for Humanitarian Affairs Joyce Msuya told the emergency meeting.
“These incidents are part of an extremely worrying pattern of systemic attacks aimed at damaging healthcare and other civilian infrastructure in Ukraine,” Msuya said.
Kiev said a children’s hospital had been hit by a Russian cruise missile with components manufactured in NATO member countries, and declared a day of mourning in the capital.
“First responders who arrived at the scene immediately after the attack found children receiving cancer treatment in hospital beds, parks and on the streets, where medical workers quickly set up first aid areas,” Msuya said.
“Russia has deliberately targeted residential areas and healthcare infrastructure,” Nicolas de Riviere, the French envoy to Ukrainian ally, said.
“France condemns these gross violations of international law, which are yet another in a list of war crimes for which Russia will be held accountable,” he said.
,‘Disgusting’ attacks
China, which has long called for a negotiated solution between Russia and Ukraine, said the two sides should “show political will, work together with each other and resume peace talks at an early date.”
“China will continue to actively promote peace talks,” Beijing envoy Fu Cong said.
Russia earlier claimed that extensive missile damage in Kiev was caused by Ukrainian air defence systems.
“We continue to emphasize that we will not attack civilian targets,” spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters at a daily briefing on Tuesday.
However, the UN said it was “highly likely” that a children’s hospital in Kiev had suffered a “direct hit” from a missile “launched by the Russian Federation”.
Russia currently chairs the Security Council and its envoy to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, indicated earlier this month that it would take a tough stance with Ukraine and its Western allies.
As a permanent member of the UN’s top security body, Moscow has a veto power, which it has used on several occasions to thwart attempts to condemn its war in Ukraine.
Initially it appeared Russia would seek to prevent Ukraine from attending Tuesday’s meeting, with Nebenzya saying Kiev had not properly drafted a letter requesting it to participate.
“Ukraine can participate in it only on the condition that it is requested to do so by the United States… We regret that Ukraine cannot act independently… (and) it must be led by its sponsor,” Nebenzya said.
“Mr President, we are shocked by the attacks on Ukraine by the country you represent,” Samuel Zbogar, Slovenia’s representative to the United Nations, told Nebenzya. He described the attacks as “brutal” and “another low.”
Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, on Monday described Russia’s deadly attacks in Ukraine as “particularly shocking”.
UN human rights chief Volker Turk echoed Guterres’ views, calling the attacks “abhorrent” and saying “the attacks severely damaged the intensive care, surgical and oncology wards at Okhmatdyt, Ukraine’s largest children’s referral hospital.”
Zelensky is urging his allies to strengthen Ukrainian air defense systems and is expected to repeat the call at a NATO summit that begins in Washington on Tuesday.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
