Russia struck a maternity hospital in Zaporizhzhia with a Shahed drone
On Sunday, Russian forces attacked Zaporizhzhia with strike drones. One of the drones directly hit the gynecology department of the medical facility. A large-scale tragedy was avoided only because patients and doctors descended into the shelter in time. Nevertheless, there were wounded, as reported by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.
According to the Ministry of Health, at the moment of the strike, 31 people were in the shelter of the medical facility: 15 staff members and 16 women, including three women in labor with their newborns. This saved them from inevitable death, as the main impact hit directly on the medical building, where the explosion caused a fire.
However, people remained in adjacent rooms outside the shelter. A doctor, a nurse, and a patient of a private dental clinic located in the same complex sustained injuries. All three were hospitalized in moderate condition. In total, six casualties are known after the attack on the medical facility.
“Putin wages war contrary to peace efforts”
The hospital strike provoked a strong reaction in Kyiv. Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha emphasized that Russia is escalating terror even as the international community discusses possible peace talks.
“Putin continues to wage war against civilians — contrary to peace efforts. Only force can make him stop aggression and terror. There should be no pauses in pressure on Moscow and support for Ukraine,” — stated Sybiha.
Terror continued throughout the day
The total number of casualties in Zaporizhzhia on Sunday increased. A few hours after the attack on the maternity hospital, another Russian drone struck the city, wounding two women and a child.
Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets noted that the strike on the gynecology department was a deliberate attack on women and unborn children:
“For the Russian Federation, there are no red lines. Accountability must follow for every such crime.”
Consequences for the medical facility
As a result of the hit, windows in the hospital were blown out, the facade was damaged, and medical equipment was destroyed. The fire that broke out on the second floor was extinguished.
The patients saved by the shelter were immediately transferred to other departments and hospitals in the city. Psychologists are now working with the mothers who experienced extreme stress. The Russian side, despite video evidence of destroyed wards, continues to claim that it only strikes military targets.
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