Ukraine slams Russian attack on children's hospital

KYIV: A Russian strike on a children's hospital in southern Ukraine wounded at least nine people, including four children, authorities said Wednesday, while President Volodymyr Zelensky called it a "deliberate" attack that shows Moscow does not want peace.

The strike in Kherson blasted out windows and left bloodstains on the floor of treatment rooms, with debris strewn across stretchers and medical equipment, footage published by Ukrainian officials showed.

Russia has hit several hospitals and medical facilities during its invasion, drawing accusations of war crimes, though Moscow says it only targets military sites.

"They could not have been unaware of where they were striking. This was a deliberate Russian attack specifically against children, against medical personnel, against basic guarantees of life in the community," Zelensky said.

Ukraine's ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said nine people were wounded. The youngest was aged eight, Zelensky said.

Around 100 people were inside the hospital at the time of the attack, Zelensky added.

Russia was "not only dragging out its terrorist war but also trying to do everything possible to ensure that no opportunity to end the war succeeds," he said.

Moscow has not commented on the strike.