Ethan Rhodes
Since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war, there have been several reports of hospitals being bombed in Ukraine. In July 2024, a children's hospital in Kyiv was hit by a missile strike, killing at least four people and injuring many more. While Russia's Defense Ministry denied responsibility, Ukrainian officials presented evidence indicating that the hospital was struck by a Russian-made missile. This incident is not isolated, as more than 1,700 medical facilities in Ukraine have been targeted since the start of the invasion, prompting Ukraine's field hospitals to move underground.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the incident | 8 July 2024 |
| Location | Kyiv, Ukraine |
| Hospital | Okhmatdyt, one of the oldest and largest children's hospitals in Kyiv |
| Victims | At least 4 people were killed and many were injured |
| Damage | The top floor of the toxicology ward was damaged, and a newly reconstructed wing was largely destroyed |
| Response | Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) posted images of a Russian-made Kh-101 cruise missile found at the site. Russia denied the attack and blamed Ukraine for it. |
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What You'll Learn
- Ukraine's field hospitals are moving underground to avoid Russian attacks
- Russia denies bombing a hospital in Kyiv, blames Ukraine
- Okhmatdyt, Ukraine's largest paediatric clinic, was targeted by Russia
- More than 1,700 medical facilities have been hit since the start of the invasion
- Russia's Defence Ministry does not respond to accusations of targeting medical facilities
Ukraine's field hospitals are moving underground to avoid Russian attacks
Ukraine is in the middle of the most sustained bombardment since the early stages of the conflict with Russia. Russian missiles and drones have hit residential areas and hospitals in Ukraine's Kyiv region, killing several civilians, including children.
In response to these attacks, Ukraine's field hospitals are moving underground to avoid becoming targets. The hospitals, often referred to as "the Shpital," are located several meters below ground and provide a secure and fully equipped setting for emergency care. They are designed to treat up to 100 wounded soldiers a day and offer services such as bone repair, soft-tissue reconstruction, and arterial bypass surgery. The underground hospitals are built with metal structures nicknamed "barrels" by medics and are equipped with operating theatres, intensive care units, and laboratories for blood tests.
The decision to move hospitals underground was made after years of systematic Russian targeting of Ukrainian medical facilities. Medics and medical facilities are especially vulnerable to attacks, and field hospitals were previously easy targets due to their visibility. By moving underground, Ukrainian medics are seeking safety from Russian attacks and the hunt for medics that has been observed.
The construction of these underground hospitals was kept highly confidential to prevent detection by the enemy. Strict safety protocols, special camouflage techniques, and anti-drone systems were employed to ensure the safety of the construction site and the hospital's anonymity. The hospitals are designed to stabilize, operate, and resuscitate patients, with no overnight stays. Wounded soldiers are brought to the hospitals directly from the battlefield and are treated and evacuated to other medical facilities if needed.
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Russia denies bombing a hospital in Kyiv, blames Ukraine
Russia has denied bombing a hospital in Kyiv, instead blaming Ukraine for the attack. On Monday, Russian missile strikes killed scores across Ukraine. A children's hospital for young cancer patients in the Ukrainian capital was also hit, killing at least four people and injuring many more.
Russia's defence ministry denied responsibility for the attack, claiming it had limited aerial strikes to defence industry targets and aviation bases. However, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has countered these claims by posting pictures from the site of the attack that evidently show the building was struck by a Russian-made Kh-101 cruise missile. The images show missile fragments containing a serial number, making it easy to trace the weapon's model and build. Side-by-side images offered by Ukraine's security service and the German press agency dpa show the same markings on a detonated missile found at the site.
Despite this evidence, several social media posts have surfaced claiming it was Ukraine that bombed the children's hospital. One post claimed that the remains of the missile found at the site were part of a Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile system. Another purported to show evidence that the missile that struck the hospital had been provided by the UK. In a post on X and Telegram, Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the attacks had been in response to Kyiv's "attempts to damage objects of Russian power infrastructure and economy". The ministry denied attacking civilian targets, adding that "numerous published photos and footage from Kyiv clearly confirm that the destruction was caused by a Ukrainian air-defense missile".
Ukraine has characterised the bombing of the hospital as part of a systematic Russian targeting of medical facilities. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, more than 1,700 medical facilities have been hit, according to the International Rescue Committee. As a result, Ukraine's field hospitals are moving underground to avoid being targeted.
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Okhmatdyt, Ukraine's largest paediatric clinic, was targeted by Russia
On 8 July 2024, Russia launched a wave of missile strikes against cities across Ukraine, including Kyiv. Okhmatdyt hospital was hit, resulting in extensive damage and disruption to this vital healthcare facility. Lesia Lysytsia, a doctor at the hospital, described the moment the missile struck as "like in a film, with a big light, then an awful sound". The blast caused a fire and destroyed one part of the hospital, with Lysytsia estimating that 60-70% of the building was damaged.
The attack on Okhmatdyt hospital caused widespread condemnation of Russia. Ukraine's allies, including the EU, the UK, and the UN, denounced the strike, with UN chief António Guterres's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stating that the attack on a children's hospital was "particularly shocking". EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell accused Russia of "ruthlessly targeting Ukrainian civilians".
Russia denied responsibility for the attack on Okhmatdyt hospital, claiming that it had limited aerial strikes to defence industry targets and aviation bases. However, evidence suggests that the hospital was struck by a Russian-made Kh-101 cruise missile. Photographs from the scene show missile fragments containing a serial number that matches a Russian missile model. Despite this evidence, some social media posts have claimed that Ukraine bombed its hospital, alleging that missile remains found at the site were part of a Ukrainian missile system.
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More than 1,700 medical facilities have been hit since the start of the invasion
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, there have been numerous reports of hospitals and other medical facilities being targeted. According to Ukraine's Health Ministry, as of July 22, 2024, a total of 1,642 medical facilities have been damaged, and another 214 have been completely destroyed. This brings the total number of affected medical facilities to over 1,800.
Russia has consistently targeted hospitals, maternity wards, outpatient clinics, and polyclinics across Ukraine. The Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital in Kyiv, Ukraine's largest children's medical center, was hit by a Russian missile on July 8, 2024, resulting in the deaths of two people and injuries to at least 32 more, including children. This attack was part of a series of Russian strikes against the capital, which also hit the Isida maternity hospital.
In addition to hospitals, Russia has also attacked ambulances. Since the beginning of the invasion, 116 ambulances have been damaged, 274 have been destroyed, and 80 have been seized. These attacks have severe consequences, not only on the medical infrastructure but also on the health and well-being of the Ukrainian people. Patients may avoid seeking necessary medical care, and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence may be deterred from coming forward.
Russia has denied responsibility for many of these attacks and has accused Ukraine of targeting its hospitals and civilian infrastructure. However, evidence suggests that Russian-made missiles were used in some of these strikes. For example, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) presented missile fragments found at the site of the Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital attack, which were identified as belonging to a Russian-made Kh-101 cruise missile.
The international community has responded to these attacks with concern and condemnation. Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) and other organizations have called for an end to these illegal attacks and for Russia to be held accountable for its violations of international law. Despite these efforts, the attacks on Ukraine's medical infrastructure have continued, with over 2,300 medical facilities damaged or destroyed as of May 2025, according to Ukraine's Health Ministry.
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Russia's Defence Ministry does not respond to accusations of targeting medical facilities
Russia has been accused of deliberately targeting healthcare infrastructure in Ukraine, with the Kremlin facing repeated accusations of targeting Ukrainian medical facilities since the start of its full-scale invasion. On July 8, Ukraine's largest children's hospital in Kyiv was bombed, sparking global condemnation. The United Nations (UN) called it a war crime and said it was far beyond the limits of humanity.
Ukraine's delegate to the UN presented images of the missile's flight trajectory and pictures of missile fragments retrieved from under the hospital, indicating that the hospital was a deliberate target. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) also posted pictures from the site of the attack, which showed that the building had been struck by a Russian-made Kh-101 cruise missile. Side-by-side images offered by the SBU and the German press agency dpa showed the same markings on a detonated missile found at the site.
However, Russia's Defence Ministry denied responsibility for the attack, claiming it had limited aerial strikes to defence industry targets and aviation bases. They accused Ukraine of staging the bombing, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stating that the hospital had no patients or doctors and was controlled by Ukrainian extremists. Russian officials called images of the attack "fake news" and labelled a pregnant woman pictured fleeing the bombed hospital as an actor.
Russia's representative to the UN countered that a Ukrainian air defence missile had hit the children's hospital while attempting to intercept a Russian missile that was meant to hit a factory. He added that if it had been a Russian strike, there would have been nothing left of the building, and all the children would have been killed, not wounded.
The bombing of the children's hospital in Kyiv is not an isolated incident. Kyiv's Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital was one of three separate Ukrainian medical facilities struck by Russian missiles on July 8. The World Health Organization (WHO) has verified that from April to May 2024, more than one-third of attacks on healthcare facilities occurred in Ukraine. Similar patterns of attacks on hospitals have been identified during Russian military campaigns in Syria, Georgia, and Chechnya.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Russia bombed Okhmatdyt, Ukraine's largest children's hospital in Kyiv, killing at least four people.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) posted pictures from the site of the attack that show the building was struck by a Russian-made Kh-101 cruise missile.
No. Ukraine did not bomb the hospital. Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied attacking civilian targets and blamed Ukraine for the attack. However, this claim has been refuted by evidence of Russian-made missile fragments found at the site.
Yes, Russia has systematically targeted medical facilities in Ukraine. More than 1,700 medical facilities have been hit since the start of the full-scale invasion. As a result, Ukraine's field hospitals are moving underground to avoid being targeted.
