Ukraine war - Selenskyj: Bombed-out children's clinic to be rebuilt
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the reconstruction of a children's hospital in Kiev, heavily damaged by a Russian rocket attack. 100 million Hryvnias (approximately 2.3 million Euro) have already been allocated for the hospital's support, with an additional 300 million Hryvnias to follow, Zelenskyy stated in his evening video message - this time from Washington, where the Ukrainian president is participating in the NATO summit. He thanked all private donors who have supported the clinic and promised help for all families whose relatives were killed or injured in the attack.
More than 40 people were killed and over 100 were injured in the rocket attack on Ukraine on Monday. The shelling of a children's hospital in Kiev caused shock internationally. Moscow has since claimed, despite UN-assessed video evidence suggesting a direct hit by a Russian rocket, that a Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile hit the building.
Zelenskyy declared in Washington that he would once again fight for the strengthening of air defense. The previously delivered Patriot systems, according to Kiev's statements, are not sufficient for effective protection of the major cities. In addition, he promised to continue fighting for the delivery of promised F-16 fighter jets.
With the F-16, Kiev, like with the Patriot systems, will fight for air supremacy in the Ukrainian sky. It currently lies on the side of the Russian military, allowing them to attack positions at the front and even cities in the Ukrainian hinterland from the air - with drones, rockets, and guided bombs dropped from aircraft, which have an extremely high destructive power.
Zelenskyy's video message
- During his evening video message from Washington, where he was participating in the NATO summit, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the reconstruction of the children's hospital in Kiev, heavily damaged by a Russian rocket attack.
- Despite Moscow's claims that a Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile hit the children's hospital, the UN-assessed video evidence suggested a direct hit by a Russian rocket.
- President Zelenskyy, while in Washington, declared his intention to once again fight for the strengthening of air defense, stating that the previously delivered Patriot systems are not sufficient for effective protection of major cities.
- In his video message, Zelenskyy also promised to continue fighting for the delivery of promised F-16 fighter jets, aiming to shift the balance of air supremacy from the Russian military to Ukraine.
- With the F-16, Kiev, like with the Patriot systems, will have the capability to defend against air attacks, preventing the Russian military from attacking positions at the front and even cities in the Ukrainian hinterland from the air.
- The NATO summit in Washington served as an opportunity for Zelenskyy to seek international support for Ukraine's reconstruction efforts and secure additional commitments to aid in the rebuilding of the damaged pediatric clinic.
- The international community, including members of NATO, expressed their condemnation of the Russian missile attack on Ukraine and pledged their support for President Zelenskyy's efforts in rebuilding the children's hospital and defending Ukrainian territories against further attacks.
