‘79 children killed in war…’: Ukraine as Russia continues bombing, shelling

Russian attacks on Ukraine have killed at least 79 children and wounded 100 more since the ‘special military operation’ began on February 24, the Ukrainian chief prosecutor’s office has been quoted by news agency AP.

The prosecutor’s office said most of the children were from the Kyiv, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Sumy, Kherson and Zhytomyr regions – which have borne the brunt of Russia’s attacks – and that these numbers were far from final as fighting continues to rage in several areas, making an accurate count difficult.

The prosecutor’s office also said that over 280 educational institutions had been hit by Russian missiles, and that nine of these had been completely destroyed.

Concern over the deaths of children have increased sharply after a Russian air strike Wednesday on a children’s hospital in the south-eastern city of Mariupol.

Horrific images circulated online showed a hospital building razed to the ground with debris, smoke and fire all around.

A report by CNN said one of the injured was a pregnant woman; ‘her face is pale, one hand cradles her belly in a protective gesture…’ the publication wrote.

Three people, including a child, were killed and 17 injured, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, condemning Russia for committing a ‘war crime’.

“We have not done and would never do anything like this war crime in any of the cities of the Donetsk or Lugansk regions, or of any region… because we are people. But are you?”

The Russian foreign ministry did not deny the attack and said Ukrainian ‘nationalist battalions’ had used the hospital to set up firing positions after moving out staff and patients.

As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine rolls into a third week, Kyiv has repeatedly accused Moscow of now targeting civilians and populated centres.

Russia has denied it is attacking civilian populations but reports – such as the one from Mariupol – appear to contradict its position.

CNN said that in addition to the hospital in Mariupol at least two other medical facilities, including another for children, were damaged this week.

The World Health Organization has confirmed at least six attacks on health infrastructure, Reuters said Monday, although it did not identify attackers.

Attacking either – hospitals or civilians – violates established rules of war.

On Saturday the Ukrainian foreign ministry also said a mosque in Mariupol in which civilians – including 34 children – had also been shelled.

Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been trapped in Mariupol for over a week with no food, water or heat and amid freezing temperatures.

Russian forces have encircled the city and, late Saturday evening, reports suggested they had captured its eastern outskirts.

The capture of Mariupol has been a priority for Russia over the past few days and repeated efforts to evacuate thousands of civilians have failed.