Russia Ukraine war latest: Nine dead as Kyiv children’s hospital hit in ‘genocidal’ hypersonic missile attack

The Russian attack on a Ukrainian children’s hospital in Kyiv was “barbaric”, the UK’s ambassador to Ukraine said on Monday.

Martin Harris said: “I am horrified to see that Kyiv’s children’s hospital has been hit in this morning’s barbaric attack by Russia on cities in Ukraine.

“My thoughts are with all who have lost loved ones today. The UK is stepping up its support to Ukraine to confront Russia’s appalling aggression.”

The Russian attack on Ukraine’s capital on Monday was one of the worst during the two-year full-scale invasion by Moscow, Kyiv’s mayor Vitali Klitschko said.

“This is one of the worst attacks. You can see it is a children’s hospital,” he said as he stood near a heavily damaged building.

A children’s hospital has been hit as seven were killed in a “massive” Russian attack on Kyiv on Monday morning, according to local officials.

The barrage was part of over 40 missiles launched at different Ukrainian cities, damaging residential buildings and infrastructure across the country, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Mr Zelensky said: “Russian terrorists have once again launched a massive missile attack on Ukraine. Different cities – Kyiv, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Slovyansk, Kramatorsk.

“More than 40 missiles of various types. Apartment buildings, infrastructure, and a children’s hospital have been damaged.”

A major Russian missile attack on the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih killed 10 and injured 31 others on Monday, local authorities said.

Several hits were reported in the city, including damage to the administrative building of an industrial enterprise, they said.

The new Labour government has pledged to provide a new package of support to Ukraine, including more artillery guns, a quarter of a million ammunition rounds and nearly 100 precision Brimstone missiles.

Here is a breakdown of the aid:

A quarter of a million of 50 calibre ammunition – 90 anti-armour Brimstone missiles – 50 small military boats to support river and coastal operations – 40 de-mining vehicles – 10 AS-90 artillery guns – 61 bulldozers to help build defensive positions – Support for previously gifted AS-90s, including 32 new barrels and critical spares which will help Ukraine fire another 60,000 155mm rounds

Hungary’s prime minister Viktor Orban will participate in the Nato summit in Washington this week, his government office said.

Mr Orban said on Monday that he would go to Washington after discussing a Chinese peace plan for Ukraine in Beijing, China.

His previously unannounced visit comes on the heels of similar trips last week to Moscow and Kyiv, where he proposed that Ukraine consider agreeing to an immediate cease-fire with Russia.

His visit to Moscow drew condemnation from Kyiv and European leaders. “The number of countries that can talk to both warring sides is diminishing,” Orbán said. “Hungary is slowly becoming the only country in Europe that can speak to everyone.”

Chinese soldiers have landed in Belarus to take part in “anti-terror” military drills on the border with Poland.

Belarus’ Ministry of Defence said that the 11-day “joint anti-terrorist exercise” would start on Monday and “improve coordination between Belarusian and Chinese units”. Chinese media said the exercises would be held in Brest, on the Polish border.

Photographs from the Baranovichi air base on Saturday, about 100 miles south-west of Minsk, showed Chinese soldiers wearing forage caps as they unloaded their equipment from a single Xian Y-20, a heavy strategic airlifter nicknamed “Chubby Girl”.

Vladimir Putin’s troops have dropped over 100 deadly glide bombs on Ukrainian territory amid intense fighting in the east of the country, according to Kyiv’s military.

The Russian army used 111 Soviet-era KAB bombs – which are retrofitted with precision guidance systems – to attack Ukrainian positions and settlements over the past 24 hours.

The munitions can weigh more than a tonne, are often dropped from aircraft and are capable of reducing entire multistorey buildings to rubble, experts say.