A children’s hospital in Kyiv has been hit by missiles as Russia unleashed a deadly barrage across Ukraine.

The attack is the biggest bombardment of the Ukrainian capital for several months, officials said.

Across the country, at least 20 people have been killed in the attack, and around 50 others injured, according to the interior ministry.

The daylight attacks included Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, one of the most advanced Russian weapons, the Ukrainian air force said.

The Kinzhal flies at ten times the speed of sound, making it hard to intercept.

City buildings shook from the blasts and the attack struck Okhmatdyt children’s hospital in Kyiv – Ukraine’s biggest children’s medical facility.

The mayor of the Ukrainian capital, Vitali Klitschko, confirmed that the hospital had been hit but did not say whether there were any casualties.

He added that patients were being evacuated to a nearby hospital.

The Kyiv military administration said on Telegram that at least seven people had been killed in the city and nine others injured.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia had targeted five cities in total, with more than 40 missiles of different types.

In a post on social media, Zelenskyy’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak accused Russia of “deliberately targeting” children.

At least ten people have been killed and 31 injured in the city of Kryvyi Rih, in the Dnipro region.

Meanwhile, Vadym Filashkin governor of the eastern Donetsk region, said at least three people had been killed in the city of Pokrovsk.

Security and Defence Editor

Russia’s strike comes on the eve of a major NATO summit in Washington, says Sky News’ security and defence editor Deborah Haynes.

She says it’s been suggested that the timing of the attack by Vladimir Putin’s forces is “no coincidence”.

The summit is due to take place in the US and will involve the leaders of all 32 NATO states – including new UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

It is expected to have a heavy focus on Ukraine.

“The war in Ukraine will be foremost in their talks with the allies,” Haynes said.

“They’ll be pledging, of course, more support for Ukrainian forces. Ukraine will be wanting more signs about whether it will be able to join NATO,” Haynes added.

She continued: “But clearly for Russia, the war in Ukraine is still carrying on. They have not changed their target, their intent to try to capture Ukraine.”

Haynes said Moscow has “sent a message” ahead of the summit that its forces can still “strike and cause horrendous damage”. 

“You’re talking about a children’s hospital that’s been hit as part of this barrage. We’ve yet to understand whether children themselves have been injured, but horrendously terrifying.”

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