Thirty-three foreign diplomats saw for themselves the devastation caused by the July 8 Russian missile strike on one of Ukraine’s biggest children’s hospital, said Ukraine’s foreign ministry in a media release.
Russia launched 40 missiles at Ukraine on Monday (July 8), killing over 40 people, wounding more than 150, and damaging residential buildings in Kyiv and other cities. Russia timed the attack as world leaders gather for NATO’s 75th anniversary summit in Washington DC.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Deputy Minister Yevhen Perebyinis, together with 33 heads of diplomatic missions, visited the Okhmatdyt children’s hospital in Kyiv.
The delegation included heads and representatives of diplomatic missions from the EU (European Union), NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), UNDP (UN Development Program), UNICEF (UN Children’s Fund), Azerbaijan, Austria, Argentina, Armenia, Vietnam, Greece, India, Indonesia, Spain, Italy, Canada, Mexico, Moldova, the Netherlands, Norway, North Macedonia, Poland, the Holy See, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sudan, Türkiye, Finland, France, Czech Republic, Montenegro, Switzerland, Sweden and Japan.
“The delegation of foreign ambassadors had the opportunity to see the consequences of the barbaric Russian missile strike on a medical facility where civilians, including children, were being treated for cancer and other heavy illnesses,” the foreign ministry of Ukraine said.
Deputy Minister Perebyinis called on representatives of diplomatic missions and international organizations to respond decisively to this horrific war crime and to make every effort to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense.
Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko and Director of Okhmatdyt Volodymyr Zhovnir were also present at the site to inform foreign diplomats of the consequences of the Russian attacks.