‘Abhorrent’: Australia, ambassador condemn Russia strike on Ukrainian children’s hospital

Australia has condemned a strike on a Ukrainian children’s hospital as “abhorrent” while Kyiv’s envoy has called it one of Russia’s worst attacks.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong joined the international community in expressing outrage at the missile strike.

“Russia’s missile attacks on several Ukrainian cities, including a Kyiv children’s hospital are abhorrent,” she wrote on social media site X.

“Australia continues to support the people of Ukraine in the face of Russia’s illegal, immoral war.”

Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko branded the incident as horrible and “one of the worst attacks ever”.

At least 36 civilians have been killed in the deadliest wave of strikes against Ukraine in months and a day of mourning has been declared.

“That was a very important children’s hospital, it was specifically dealing with some very complicated cases,” the ambassador told AAP.

“The brand new building which was recently completed which included the cancer ward and toxicology ward ... when you can think Russia cannot go lower, they are always finding a way.”

Two children were among 22 people killed in the capital with more than 80 others wounded, according to Ukrainian officials.

Scores more were killed and injured in other regions during the barrage of missiles.

Mr Myroshnychenko said watching the footage of children being treated out in the open was “gut-wrenching”.

“We are still counting the number of casualties but it has definitely been one of the most terrible attacks,” he said.

“We have no other option, we have to keep on fighting.”

Kyiv has called the attack a war crime.

The US ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink called it “callous aggression (and) a total disregard for human life”.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has vowed to retaliate as Kyiv sought more air defence systems to help protect cities and civilians.

“The question to our partners is: can they respond?” he said, with the attack coming as NATO countries are set to meet in Washington.

Russia has claimed it carried out strikes against defence industry targets and previously denied targeting civilians.

with Reuters