Searching for survivors amidst destroyed Kyiv children's hospital following fatalities from Russia's missile assault on Ukraine, with over 29 lives lost.

Unknown numbers were found trapped beneath debris after a major children's hospital in Ukraine was struck by Russian missiles during daylight. The incident reportedly resulted in at least 29 deaths nationwide.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for retaliation following the direct hit on Okhmatdyt, Kyiv's primary children cancer treatment center. This was considered one of the most intense attacks on the capital since Russia initiated its invasion in February 2022.

“Russia must be held accountable for all wrongdoings: towards individuals, particularly innocent children and humanity as a whole,” Zelenskyy stated via Telegram app. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported five confirmed deaths at the Kyiv hospital and additional injuries to four others.

The attack destroyed significant parts of the facility, prompting hundreds of rescue workers and volunteers to remove debris in search for survivors. The exact number of those still trapped beneath the rubble remains unclear. Health Minister Viktor Liashko expressed uncertainty during his statements outside the hospital.

Nurse Maria Soloshenko shared her experience, describing how staff attempted to evacuate patients when an explosion occurred while moving children from a dialysis unit to shelter. Witnesses present at the scene described distressed young cancer patients amidst the chaotic evacuation process.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko mentioned this attack as one of the heaviest since Russia's invasion began, although prior weeks had seen relatively low civilian casualties due to Western-supplied defenses. The mayoral office shared a photo showing a missile heading towards Kyiv moments before it struck the hospital, identified by Ukraine's Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak as Kh-101 cruise missiles.

The city's search and rescue efforts were hampered due to air raid alarms causing staff to seek shelter. Similar strikes were also reported in other parts of the country, with casualties totaling at least 29 nationwide as confirmed by Ukrainian officials. Russian authorities denied responsibility for Monday's incident but attributed a different event involving missile impacts on civilian infrastructure elsewhere without specifying locations or entities targeted.

The International Rescue Committee strongly criticized the attack, emphasizing that no child should fear harm during times of recovery and healing at medical facilities. The World Health Organization recorded nearly 1,700 attacks on healthcare sites since Russia's invasion began.