UN chief 'strongly condemns' Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities

By Merve Aydogan

HAMILTON, Canada (AA) - The UN chief on Monday expressed strong condemnation over Russian air attacks on Ukrainian cities, which Russia later denied, including allegations of a strike on Kyiv's largest children's hospital.

"The Secretary General (Antonio Guterres) strongly condemns today's missile attack by the Russian Federation hitting residential and civilian infrastructure across Ukraine, including in the cities of Kyiv, Kryvyi, Dnipro and Pokrovsk," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric at a news conference.

Stating that Monday's strike "reportedly killed dozens of civilians, including children, and injured over 150 more," Dujarric said: "Directing attacks against civilian and civilian objects is prohibited by international humanitarian law, and any such attacks are unacceptable and must end immediately."

Extending Guterres' "deepest condolences" to the victims and wishing recovery to those injured, Dujarric further provided details about the situation in Ukraine as he said "the children's hospital in the center of Kyiv was severely damaged as children were actually receiving treatment."

Earlier Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of striking the children's hospital in Kyiv, on the eve of this week’s NATO summit in the US.

Russia’s Defense Ministry denied the claims.